It's now our journey begins with Lopetegui. We've had a wonderful preseason. Lots of positives. All strikers scoring, back ups progressing. Starters focused. Lopetegui has done very well with the team so far. Those he played in the Bernabeu trophy are probably the ones he's counting on for next season. So we might see Llorente as an emergency CB instead of Sanchez thank God



Atleti have come out of a torrid preseason campaign, despite all of their new shiny players. I fancy us to batter them tbh

With our new found intensity and desie to win the ball back quickly after we've lost it. We can limit Atletis chances to very minimal

Probable line up:


Despite Casemiro and Marcelo starting against Milan I don't think Lope will risk it against Atleti. The intensity of that game will be 10x higher tjan against Milan

Here is to trophies raining down on us next season starting with the Super Cup

i woud start Nacho over Varane

In what universe Nick... come on

It's going to be

Courtois
Carvajal - Varane - Ramos - Marcelo
Modric - Casemiro - Kroos
Bale - Benzema - Asensio/Isco

in the universe that it's a preseason game and Varane and co just came back.

I see nothing wrong with it anyway, why not switch things up a bit?

the XI Hala posted is the one which played the best this offseason, simply because they have had more time to practice together and to assimilate the coach's concepts

I'm with Hala/Nick. I think playing the WC players like Modric, Casemiro, Marcelo, and Courtois would be a mistake. They have looked really out of shape- apart from Modric but he did only have what 20 minutes?

The players in the Hala/Nick lineups have played pretty well together. They have the most minutes. I think it would be a risk to play the ones who have had the least minutes.

It's an official competition... it's not a friendly despite what you all think AND it's against a rival, Atletico.

We're going to go at it 100%.

Absolute best side will play.

Last year we wiped the floor with yanited, and we had one of the worst la liga campaign in recent years behind. No one in March was thinking" Oh we played so good vs United back last August" lol, this game is about as non consequential as it gets.

I will understand if Lopetegui fields the big name because they just came back but i would respect him even more if he plays the team which is fitter and more ready

I know a lot of Spanish Madrid fans... they don't care if it's march or august. They absolutely do not want to lose any official match to either Barca or Atleti. It's a rivalry game.

I agree with them.

Who says playing the players with the least minutes would give us a better chance of winning?

The fit guys have been playing well, the ones who just got back are rusty and out of shape.

You don't lose fitness after 4-5 weeks.  That's how long it's been since the WC for Modric and Varane + they were in top fitness at that time too.  They're fine.  Casemiro and Marcelo were out longer... so maybe there.

The only question for me is whether Lopo will go extreme attacking and play Kroos low so that he can accomodate both Asensio and Isco. Casemiro actually looked off.

nacho could play for Marcelo.

That's mostly what we are saying. Marcelo and Casemiro look off- I would definitely not play them. Varane and Ramos I am okay with, just like Hala's formation. Courtois hasn't played at all, and Modric has only 15-20 with the team, so I would possibly start Modric, but not Courtois.

I'm not sure why exactly you are discounting the importance of match fitness.

With a few more days of training, I'd probably go with:


Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if Vinicius got a cheeky start, with Ceballos and Bale I think he has been the best player of preseason.

The way i see it Casemiro's technical weaknesses will become more apparent under Lopetegui because of how he intends to play. Lopetegui wants someone with good agility who can pass the ball very well under pressure and interchange positions. Llorente can come in there and i feel he will put Kroos there for a while. 433 and 4231 being our most likely formations throughout the season as i predicted, with attention to the mobility of midfielders and attackers.

Nacho over Marcelo and Modric over Ceballos and we have a starting line up. This is a European Super Cup against Atleti, of course we have to take this seriously.

Courtois also played end of July and went through a whole intense WC tournament. He's fine imo.

They may keep him out because of the Atleti thing... but that would be the only reason.

Kroos as the holding mid really bothers me though lol.

I don’t know who the Spanish Real Madrid fans are that Sports is referring to!

I can tell you that I and Spanish madridistas that I know want the best most fit lineup, but of course we want to win. Who says we are better off with unfit so called starters than those who are fit, have played together, adopted to Lopetequi’s style / tactics and have looked good!

Besides it appears we have a competitive lineup this year and not everyone will be a sure starter. You can bet that Lopetequi will be playing more of a full squad that the previous coach!

The Madrid One wrote:The way i see it Casemiro's technical weaknesses will become more apparent under Lopetegui because of how he intends to play. Lopetegui wants someone with good agility who can pass the ball very well under pressure and interchange positions. Llorente can come in there and i feel he will put Kroos there for a while. 433 and 4231 being our most likely formations throughout the season as i predicted, with attention to the mobility of midfielders and attackers.

Nacho over Marcelo and Modric over Ceballos and we have a starting line up. This is a European Super Cup against Atleti, of course we have to take this seriously.

I also believe Casemiro will have difficulty on this team this year. People keep talking about a holding mid, but I believe we are playing (mostly), 2 deep lying mids ( Kroos, Thiago (if he comes), Llorente and Casemiro and 2 more advanced (Modric, Isco, Asensio, Ceballos). Also looks like Casemiro, Llorente will be the emergency 4th CB while Vallejo is out, rather than Castilla’s Sanchez.

Nobody played more of a full squad than Zidane the year before last... memories are short lol.

Well, when you have world class players like James and Bale on the bench who know what to do without telling them anything it's easy to rotate.

We have alrady seen that both Ceballos and Llorente yet alone Asensio should have gotten more minutes last year.

Are you going to keep this up all year as to how great Zidane was and nothing Lopetequi can do, is better for current team overall?

Back on topic, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Reguilon start over Marcelo (and Nacho) in this game. Marcelo has a lot to overcome right now, both fitness and adaotation of new / different tactics. Nacho is the only extra CB, other than the possibly emergency replacements plus it will be surprising if Varane will play a full game.

I want to see Reguilon in a competitive game too

Valkyrja wrote:Well, when you have world class players like James and Bale on the bench who know what to do without telling them anything it's easy to rotate.

Nacho, Vasquez, Asensio, Kova... even Mariano got a few looks.  Of course, he also had Isco, James, Pepe, Danilo and Morata.  Point is, he used 21 players a lot that season. 22 if you count Casilla.

I'd save Reguilon for a CDR game or a league game. Against a bitter rival in the supercup - might be too high of stakes. He's been good so far, but that might be too much of the deep end for him. i'd prefer Nacho for some more reliability.

These guys are going to be running up and down all game. After nearly two months out and only a half against Milan I really doubt whether the WC late comers will be fit enough to start v Atleti. Casemiro and Marcelo already looked out of sorts against Milan. And Ceballos starting is not a problem for us, he's excellent but I am abit sceptical as to whether Kroos playing furthest down won't be a problem. Varane I think can start as his positions requires concentration more than fitness. Courtois has barely trained with us. Has no chemistry with our defenders and Keylor is fabulous anyhow so Courtois is not needed.

vanDEEZ wrote:I'd save Reguilon for a CDR game or a league game. Against a bitter rival in the supercup - might be too high of stakes. He's been good so far, but that might be too much of the deep end for him. i'd prefer Nacho for some more reliability.

Tbh Reguillon has shown how feisty he can be alot this preseason. You wouldn't think he came straight from Castilla. I think he can match Atleti's intensity. Even on the ball he's been very daring even in our own box. I doubt Lope will start him though. If Varane plays I think it'll be Nacho at LB