Four Things We Learnt as Real Madrid win historic UEFA Super Cup
Luka Modric holds aloft the UEFA Super Cup trophy after Real Madrid beat Atalanta (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images).

Real Madrid secured a record-breaking sixth UEFA Super Cup title at the National Stadium in Warsaw, with a 2-0 victory over UEFA Europa League winner Atalanta.

Second-half goals from Fede Valverde and debutant marquee signing Kylian Mbappe ensured Los Blancos picked up their fourth title of the calendar year, having already won the Supercopa de España, La Liga and UEFA Champions League.

Here are four things we learnt.

  • Mbappe arrives with a bang

Kylian Mbappe announced himself as a Real Madrid player in style, netting the second goal during his debut victory over La Dea.

Latching onto a pass from Jude Bellingham, the Frenchman smashed his effort past Juan Musso and into the top corner to all but seal the cup. The latest Galáctico has entered the world stage and has already fully repaid the faith put into him by the likes of Florentino Perez who sanctioned the €125m signing bonus after Mbappé joined on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain.

Throughout his career, in UEFA competitions, the former AS Monaco man has always stood out. Since bursting onto the scene as a seventeen-year-old in 2016, he has hit the back of the net on 48 occasions in European football's elite competition, leaving him ranked ninth in the all-time scoring charts at just 25 years of age.

If this is a sign of what is to come, Los Blancos fans have every right to be excited, and it could even pose the chance for the France captain to get his hands on European football's greatest prize for the first time.

  • Atalanta bravery not rewarded 

It is worth remembering that there is a vast contrast between these two clubs. The city of Bergamo only has a population of 120,000 - only 35,000 less than the capacity of Real Madrid's new, incredible state-of-the-art Santiago Bernabeu.

On the night, Gian Piero Gasperini's side showed immense dedication and application to their game plan, despite going up against the greatest team to ever grace European football. This desire to stay committed to their core values was the exact reason for their famous UEFA Europa League triumph, as they prevented Bayer Leverkusen from a historic unbeaten treble.

Although they were up against it for the large majority, I Nerazzurri did have some incredible opportunities to go ahead with the game tied at 0-0. Firstly, Eder Militao was nearly forced into a tragic own goal in the first half, as his attempted clearance cannoned off the crossbar before Mario Pasalic forced Thibaut Courtois into an impeccable save from his near-perfect header.

Gasperini can hold his head high after his side's gritty performance in Poland, despite respectably losing to his Italian counterpart, and he should be feeling very positive ahead of the upcoming Serie A campaign.

  • Vini Jr strives on the biggest stage

On a night when a new era of Galácticos were given their debuts, Vinicius Jr ensured he grabbed the headlines yet again for Real Madrid on a European night.

Having played a major role in their Champions League victory last season - assisting twice in the quarter-final and then scoring twice in the semi-final and once in the final, earning himself the competition's Player of the Season award - the tricky winger made sure he started this season as he ended the last one. 

Looking to win the prestigious prize in the Ballon D'Or, Vinicius is on the right path, grabbing an assist on Wednesday night, where he offered fans a glimpse of what is to come as he enters his third season as a Los Merengues player.

The Brazilian is a major fan of the very biggest occasions, the very pinnacle of contests, and this is clearly where he is at his best, as we saw yet again against Atalanta.

  • Bellingham magic lights up Warsaw

The Englishman was named the UEFA Player of the Match on the night and was responsible for a truly magnificent performance from Los Blancos.

Registering an assist for the goal which sealed the cup tie, the former Birmingham City and Borussia Dortmund midfielder was fantastic in the heart of the midfield, pulling the strings yet again in another UEFA club-competition final. It feels like just yesterday we were raving about his performance as the white side of Madrid secured their fifteenth Champions League title.

Throughout UEFA Euro 2024, we saw small glimpses of his quality coming up trump when his side needed him most, such as his magical overhead kick deep into stoppage time against Slovakia to save England from an embarrassing round of sixteen exit.

Again, for Real Madrid, he showed off his ability with a standout display against Gasperini's Atalanta. He was all over the pitch, helping out both defensively - as he made two tackles and two interceptions - and offensively, completing all but four of his attempted 49 passes.

England and Real Madrid have a star on their hands for many years to come, as yet another Galáctico from last season outshone the new kids on the block.