:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56081549/821332070.0.jpg)
The tone is set and the season begins on Tuesday as Champions League winners Real Madrid take on Europa League winners Manchester United, at Philip II Arena in Macedonia.
Real Madrid will be playing in their second successive Super Cup match in two years after being the first team to win back-to-back Champions League titles. Last season included a thrilling encounter with Sevilla where Marco Asensio announced himself to the Madrid faithful with a golazo, and Dani Carvajal had a brilliant individual run to seal the victory in extra time. After a poor run of results in pre-season, Zidane and his men will be looking to use the Super Cup to kickstart their season and bring home further silverware.
Madrid’s inconsistent preseason may have them lacking a bit of confidence, but the team has a record that is yet to be scorned — 65 consecutive competitive matches where a goal has been scored. The last scoreless game was between Real Madrid and Manchester City in the first round of the Champions League semi-finals way back in April 2016. More than a year later, Madrid is still scoring (even during a poor pre-season) and they will look to continue that record against a United defense that will be without the suspended Phil Jones and Eric Bailey. Last year’s top goal scorer, Cristiano Ronaldo, will not feature as he only started training this past week, but the same XI that started in Cardiff should be expected from Zidane with the exception of Bale replacing Ronaldo.
Jose Mourinho and Manchester United will be looking to make a statement. Mourinho’s second year in charge is usually his best. The Red Devils have recruited well this summer signing Romelu Lukaku, Victor Lindelof, and Nemanja Matic. Their physical presence is now an integral part of their system and will have to be combated. Lukaku and Rashford now form a dynamic, fast, and towering forward line that can strike fear into any defensive line. If Matic is given the start, he and Pogba will look to impose themselves on Kroos and Modric, and quick combination play will be vital if Madrid is to have success avoiding a physical match.
Antonio Pintus had his way with the team in the US and some heavy legs during the preseason matches were evidence of that gruelling fitness work. Will Madrid start to reap the rewards from that work, or will another lacklustre game ensue? Mourinho will want to get one over Madrid and claim he is at the biggest club in the world, its up to Zidane and his men to prove that could not be further from the truth. Trophy number one of a potential six will be up for grabs on Tuesday. Expect an exciting match.
Projected Line Ups:
Real Madrid: Navas; Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo; Casemiro, Modric, Kroos; Isco, Benzema, Bale
Manchester United: De Gea; Valencia, Smalling, Lindelof, Blind; Matic, Herrera, Pogba; Mkhitaryan, Lukaku, Rashford
Prediction: Real Madrid 2 (Benzema, Marcelo) – Manchester United 1 (Lukaku)
How to watch Real Madrid vs Manchester United
Date: 08/08/2017
Time: 20:45 CET, 02:45pm EST, 11:45am Pacific.
Venue: Filipo II, Skopje, Macedonia.
Available TV: FOX Sports 1 (USA), BT Sports 2 (UK), Antena 3 (Spain).
Available LIVE on stream: FOX (USA), Fubo.TV (EVERY Real Madrid game with a high-quality and legal stream, click here to sign up and benefit from a summer discount for new members and Managing Madrid readers).