Three questions and three answers about Real Madrid 2-0 Atalanta, UEFA Super Cup 2024

Real Madrid secured their first away win of the season on Saturday night with a 2-0 victory over Real Sociedad in San Sebastián. The win came from two penalties. Vinícius Júnior converted the first after blocking an Arda Güler shot with his hand, and Kylian Mbappé converted the second after the Brazilian goalscorer was brought down in the box.

Three answers

1. Who would start between Arda Güler and Brahim Díaz?

All week, speculation had been rife over Carlo Ancelotti's doubts about whether to field Arda Güler or Brahim Díaz in midfield. The pair had been expected to compete for a midfield position to replace the injured Dani Ceballos, and start alongside Fede Valverde and captain Luka Modrić. The coach surprised with his selection by unexpectedly placing Rodrygo Goes on the bench, opting to field both players in a formation more akin to a 4-2-3-1, with Valverde slightly deeper than Modrić and the other two up front alongside Vinícius Júnior, with Kylian Mbappé as number nine. It was an experiment that was short-lived in the end, as Brahim struggled after an apparent muscle injury in his right leg. Rodrygo came on for him in the 24th minute, setting up a team that was expected from the start.

2. What kind of opponent would Real Sociedad be?

Anyone who has followed La Liga over the past few years will know that Real Sociedad are no pushovers. Real Madrid have won three of their last six games at the Reale Arena, drawn two and lost one. La Real have regularly qualified for European matches in recent years. However, before this game they had won just one of their four games this season, losing twice at home to Rayo Vallecano and Alavés, and lost key players such as Mikel Merino to Arsenal and Robin Le Normand to Atlético Madrid. Captain Mikel Oyarzabal was also suspended, making the Basques a difficult team to predict when Los Blancos invaded town.

3. How fit is Eder Militão?

Just when it seemed that Real Madrid's injury storm couldn't get much worse, centre-back Éder Militão began to stretch and reach for his recently injured knee. The Brazilian was doubtful before the match after an injury with his national team, but was deemed fit to play for San Sebastián. And that was just as well, as only Jesús Vallejo was on the bench as a reserve centre-back. Militão played the full 90 minutes despite a knee injury, but he may need to watch his fitness as the games pile up. Antonio Rüdiger is also battling an injury and there are very few other options for Ancelotti at the moment. The manager played down any concerns about the defender's fitness after the game, but it could still be a difficult few weeks for the back line.

Three questions

1. Why does Real Madrid win so many penalties?

The answer is pretty straightforward: even though this team isn't quite into their stride yet, they still have plenty of possession and danger in the final third. That, coupled with the talent and technical ability of these players, will always pose a major threat, whether or not this team can convert their chances. Both penalties reflected that. Arda Güler's shot from distance probably shouldn't have gone in the net, but it hit a stray arm. Vini's run into the box shouldn't have resulted in a goal, but it drew the foul. The team's last three goals have all come from the penalty spot, and four of their last five, and that's the result of dangerous attacking play.

2. Is Fede Valverde the linchpin that Real Madrid is missing?

Nobody expected Real Madrid to field their fourth defensive midfielder so early in the season, but injuries to Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelién Tchouameni meant that Fede Valverde was next on the list of Toni Kroos' replacements. Playing alongside the slightly more advanced Luka Modrić, who set the tempo, Valverde showcased his ability as a pass distributor, completing more long balls than any other player, completing six of seven attempts. He also completed 59 of 63 passes, including eight into the final third. He also defended strongly, providing good coverage for the backline with two successful tackles and one interception. It may not be the position where he can make the most of his talents, but he was a quality option in times of need.

3. Was this Kylian Mbappé’s best performance for Real Madrid so far?

This question was rightly posed to Carlo Ancelotti in his post-match press conference, and the Italian responded: “I see him fresher and more active. He is very dangerous and works well with Vinícius and the forwards. He is improving a lot. I liked his game a lot.” Mbappé scored from the penalty spot, just like last time against Real Betis, but was much more involved in the game. He completed two dribbles, one of which was an impressive run past several Real Sociedad defenders, and had an early chance from inside the box. With 41 touches, this was actually the lowest number Mbappé recorded in a game in a Real Madrid shirt, but each of his involvements was more influential and his movements without the ball seemed much better integrated with those of his teammates. He seems to be getting better as he adapts over time.