Tuesday 8th August 2017 Kickoff:1945hrs Real Madrid v Manchester United Football – European – UEFA Super Cup The European Super Cup is not the most prestigious of competitions and both Real Madrid and Manchester United will certainly be hoping that they are competing for more illustrious honours in 10 months time but Tuesday’s game in Macedonia remains a fascinating one. As well as pitting the winners of last year’s European competitions against each other it also see Jose Mourinho face his old club in a competitive game. The two did play each other in the International Champions Cup at the end of last month but this will be more like the thing with the first piece of European silverware of the season offer.
Real created history in Cardiff when defeating Juventus 3-1 in the Champions League final back in June. It was the first time a team have won the trophy in consecutive seasons since it changed from the European Cup and it was perhaps fitting that it was Real who achieved it, being the club who have won the trophy on most occasions. It was another feather in the cap for Zinedine Zidane who only knows how to win since taking over as manager last season. Their win over city rivals Atletico in May 2016 has now been followed with success in this competition, following a 3-2 win over Sevilla in Norway last year, and their first La Liga title since 2012 – as well as retaining the Champions League. It’s a remarkable feat for any manager to do that but the fact that it is Zidane’s first foray into coaching at a senior level makes it even more impressive. You can guarantee that it won’t be enough, though, and he will still be looking for more success and create more history along the way, starting on Tuesday.
Considering how slowly and pedestrian Mourinho’s first season at Old Trafford started, the fact that they won two trophies and qualified for the Champions League is probably a fair effort all things considered. It’s patently obvious that the League Cup and Europa League are not the competitions that United want to be renowned for but they are a means to an end on this occasion. Failure to qualify for the Champions League via the Premier League was obviously a failure but it made winning the secondary European competition all that more important and a win over Ajax in Stockholm clinched a place in the group stage of the premier competition. It was arguably one of the most Mourinho-type performances for United thus far as they dominated a limited Ajax team without every really excelling themselves. Mourinho has sought to build from that game and the summer signings already brought in will add further character to the mentality that is building and the power throughout the spine of the team has definitely increased. Tuesday’s game will be a good measure of where they are in relation to the continent’s very best ahead of their participation in the Champions League.
Whatever happens in Macedonia this week you can be rest assured that Mourinho and Zidane will be looking to use the final three weeks of the transfer window to strengthen their squads further for the new season. Both have been busy already with many big names both arriving and leaving, whilst the rumours surrounding Real and United continue at pace. One that has been ramped up in recent days is Gareth Bale’s potential switch from the Bernabeu to Old Trafford. Mourinho has been particularly vocal in the build up to this one but you’re never certain of how strong that likelihood is. Bale missed large chunks of the previous campaign and was a peripheral figure as Real conquered Europe for a 12th time. He’s now fully fit after a good pre season and it will be interested to see how he performs amidst all the speculation.
Neither Real or United are strangers to this showpiece occasion with a combined eight appearances. The Spanish Champions have won on three of their five visits whilst the Red Devils have one win and two defeats having last reached it in 2008. Although Mourinho has won three European trophies (before this year’s Europa League) this will be just his second time in a UEFA Super Cup final having switched clubs immediately after Champions League triumphs with Porto and Inter Milan, he would love nothing more than winning it for the first time at the expense of a club where he felt he was harshly treated.
Real Madrid v Manchester United Betting Tip
Spanish teams have dominated the Super Cup over the last nine years as a team from La Liga have won it eight of those times. That’s no surprise really considering how dominant they have been in European competition in general and both of Real’s win have come against Spanish opposition, beating Sevilla twice. It’s a sign of how much this club wish to win no matter what competition or trophy is at stake and that will be the case once again on Tuesday.
It was 1-1 after 90 minutes when they played each other in California but United fielded a much stronger side on that occasion with their domestic league starting earlier. That may yet prove to be an advantage for Mourinho and his players once again which makes me wary of putting Real up as a confident selection to win the game in the duration. The last two finals, incidentally, have went to extra-time and it could well happen on Tuesday. The best I like most, however, is for both teams to find the back of the net. Whilst both will be attempting to win there is usually some more freedom and space for the attacking players with sides not wishing to risk injury ahead of the new season. It has been a winner if four of the last five Super Cup finals and can land once again.
Both teams to score 9/13 @ 10bet
