The curtain will be raised on the new football season in European stadiums, when Real Madrid of Spain faces Atalanta of Italy tomorrow, Wednesday, in the Polish capital, Warsaw, in the European Super Cup match.
Real Madrid is playing in the competition – whose first official edition was launched in 1973 – for the ninth time, after winning the Champions League title last season for the 15th time in its history, following its victory over German club Dortmund in the final match, to enhance its record as the club with the most titles in the tournament throughout history.
In contrast, Atalanta is participating in the tournament for the first time, after its historic and unexpected victory last season in the Europa League title, following its victory over German Bayer Leverkusen, who won the local double.
At the historic Wembley Stadium in the British capital, London, Dortmund paid the price for their players wasting one opportunity after another, while the experience of Real Madrid players, led by veteran Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti, played a decisive role in the Spanish team winning the title in the end, thus further strengthening its grip on the throne of the round witch in the old continent.
The early exit from the Copa del Rey in the last 16 was the only failure of last season (Real won the Spanish Super Cup, La Liga and Champions League) for Ancelotti's squad, who chose to remain as Real Madrid coach for at least another season, despite earlier speculation that he had reached an agreement to coach the Brazilian national team.
Real Madrid hopes to win the European Super Cup for the sixth time and hold the record for the most wins in the tournament, which it currently shares with Barcelona and Milan.
Nigerian star Ademola Lookman played the leading role in Atalanta's coronation in the European League, scoring the team's three goals against Leverkusen, inflicting the Italian team's only loss on its German counterpart during the past season in all competitions, and recording his first appearance in the European Super Cup match.
Despite Atalanta's stunning Europa League campaign last season, which included knocking out Liverpool in the quarter-finals, few would have bet on Gian Piero Gasperini's men beating Leverkusen in the final and Atalanta winning their first European title, which would also be the team's first domestic or continental trophy in 61 years.
Atalanta's journey of glory last season was completed, with the team finishing fourth in the Italian League and coming in second place in the Italian Cup.
Atalanta are also set to face Ecuadorian side Liga de Quito, winners of the Copa Sudamericana in the UEFA/CONMEBOL Challenge Cup, as well as next year's Italian Super Cup.
However, Atalanta did not achieve the desired results during its friendly matches in preparation for the new season, but the Italian team will try to achieve a surprise against Real, as it did in the Irish capital, Dublin, in the Europa League final.