August 8, Skopje, Macedonia, Philip II Stadium.
The European Super Cup: Real Madrid faced Manchester United.
This was the second meeting between the two teams that summer. In their previous encounter at the International Champions Cup in the United States, Manchester United had beaten Real Madrid with a last-minute penalty. This time, however, they met in the European Super Cup.
Real Madrid lined up in a 4-3-3 Formation. Navas was in goal, with Marcelo, Varane, Ramos, and Carvajal across the back. The midfield trio consisted of Toni Kroos, Casemiro, and Modrić, while Isco, Suarez, and Mbappé led the attack.
With their superior overall strength, Real Madrid quickly took control of the match and settled into their rhythm, repeatedly threatening Manchester United's goal. Mbappé showed tremendous fighting spirit from the start, taking the first shot of the match—a volley from the edge of the penalty area.
But it was Casemiro who opened the scoring for Real Madrid. In the twenty-fourth minute, he met Carvajal's diagonal pass and slid the ball into the net from in front of goal.
After the sides switched ends for the second half, Suarez sent a low ball in from the left. Isco collected it near the front of the penalty area and played a one-two with Mbappé before placing his shot into the far corner, giving Real Madrid another goal.
Manchester United quickly turned the game around. In the sixty-second minute, Matic's powerful long-range shot caused Navas to spill the ball, and Lukaku followed up with a simple finish from in front of goal. Manchester United pulled one back and rekindled their hopes.
Starting in the sixty-fifth minute, Zidane began making substitutions.
Yang Yang came on in the sixty-fifth minute, replacing Suarez.
This was Yang Yang's first appearance for Real Madrid that season. Including the earlier