Marten de Roon of Atalanta applauds the fans after the team's victory in the Serie A match between Atalanta and Udinese at Gewiss Stadium on November 10, 2024 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Marten de Roon of Atalanta applauds the fans after the team's victory in the Serie A match between Atalanta and Udinese at Gewiss Stadium on November 10, 2024 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Marten de Roon insists Atalanta want to ‘prove we can play better than we did’ in the UEFA Super Cup and feel it is a ‘spectacular’ chance to host Real Madrid in a full stadium at last.
It kicks off at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo at 20.00 GMT.
You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from this game and Bayer Leverkusen-Inter on the Liveblog.
These teams did meet in the Champions League Round of 16, with Real Madrid winning 1-0 in Bergamo in February 2021 and 3-1 at home the next month.
As this was post-COVID, the arenas were still only allowing very limited attendance.
“Real Madrid at home with a packed stadium is different, as last time we hosted them, the stadium was closed,” De Roon told Sky Sport Italia.
“This is the biggest club in the world, we can feel the atmosphere and it is something spectacular, especially with the new arena completed.”
De Roon relishing Atalanta-Real Madrid reunion
Real Madrid's Uruguayan midfielder #08 Federico Valverde (C) celebrates with teammates scoring during the UEFA Super Cup football match between Real Madrid and Atalanta BC in Warsaw, on August 14, 2024. (Photo by Sergei GAPON / AFP) (Photo by SERGEI GAPON/AFP via Getty Images)
Real Madrid’s Uruguayan midfielder #08 Federico Valverde (C) celebrates with teammates scoring during the UEFA Super Cup football match between Real Madrid and Atalanta BC in Warsaw, on August 14, 2024. (Photo by Sergei GAPON / AFP) (Photo by SERGEI GAPON/AFP via Getty Images)
They also crossed paths on August 14 for the UEFA Super Cup, where Real Madrid won 2-0 thanks to Federico Valverde and Kylian Mbappé goals.
“We are improving every year, we won the Europa League and that gave us confidence. Real Madrid are a little below their usual standards at the moment, but we still have to look beyond that and consider them favourites,” continued De Roon.
“We have to remember we are playing at home with our crowd behind us and we want to prove that we can play better than we did in the Super Cup in Warsaw.”
Real Madrid are missing Ferland Mendy, Eduardo Camavinga, David Alaba, Daniel Carvajal and Eder Militao, but have also made some surprising decisions with Aurelien Tchaoumeni in defence, Dani Ceballos and Brahim Diaz getting rare starts.
“The attack is their greatest strength, they have players who can make the difference and we need to be wary of their counter-attacks, as they have so much pace and quality,” concluded the Atalanta captain.
“We must have faith in our style of football and attack, but do so with balance.”
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