Jude Bellingham provided a glimpse of an exciting relationship with Kylian Mbappe by assisting the Frenchman’s first goal for Real Madrid. Los Blancos lifted the Super Cup in Poland, defeating Atalanta 2-0 with a team that should dominate both domestically and in Europe this season.
Bellingham adopted a similar attacking midfield position to the one he played for England at Euro 2024. However, he looked much more comfortable playing in a Real team brimming with the world’s best talent.
Mbappe’s goal headlined a relatively low-key affair. The 25-year-old sealed a long-awaited switch from Paris Saint-Germain earlier this summer, running down his contract with the French club to sign for the Spanish giants.
Vinicius Junior’s mazy run saw him cross for Bellingham. The midfielder played a defence-splitting pass to find Mbappe in space in the centre of the penalty area.
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Real’s new number nine fired first-time into the top corner of the net. An embrace with Bellingham during the celebrations suggests the pair have already struck up a partnership off the field. There will be little many teams can do to prevent them on the pitch this season.
Mbappe's goal came less than 10 minutes after Federico Valverde scored the opening goal in the 59th minute. Vinicius, the best performer on the night, sped away from his marker, raced to the byline and cut the ball back for Valverde to convert the simplest of finishes.
This annual fixture between the winners of the Champions League and the Europa League was particularly one-sided. It was a clash between a frugal club solidifying their place among Italy's best teams, and a long-term European heavyweight who have assembled one of the best domestic squads in history. Atalanta inflicted Bayer Leverkusen's only defeat last season but barely threatened Thibaut Courtois's goal.
Bellingham was given the freedom to join an attack that was made up of Mbappe, Vinicius and Rodrygo. Valverde was deeper in midfield alongside Aurelien Tchouameni, an £85million talent who seemed comfortable stepping into the shoes of Toni Kroos.
If that starting XI was not enough, Carlo Ancelotti was able to call upon the veteran Luka Modric and the talented teenager Arda Guler. Brazilian wonderkid Endrick was able to have a night off evidenced the riches available to Ancelotti.
There will be disappointment upstairs at the Bernabeu if Real do not retain their Champions League crown come the end of the campaign. For Bellingham and Mbappe, who endured a tough Euro 2024 with France, it was the perfect start for a relationship hoping to be the protagonist in a trophy-winning machine.
