Wednesday evening this week will see the traditional curtain raiser to the European football 
season as the winners of the 2017 Champions League, Real Madrid, take on their city rivals and Europa League winners Atletico Madrid in the 2018 UEFA Super Cup Final.
It will be the fifth all-Spanish Super Cup Final, and the fourth in the last five years, but it will be the first Super Cup fixture that will involve two rivals from the same city. Spanish teams have dominated this competition in recent times, with clubs from the country winning nine of the last ten finals (including this years).
We will bring you all the key information from this massive game which will be held in Tallinn, Estonia this year for the first time. In addition, we will also bring you our top tips on the game if you fancy a flutter on the outcome of the match or on any of the top markets offered at Bet365.
Remember if you haven’t joined Bet365 already, then you can do so by claiming their latest Bet365 Welcome Bonus for new customers.
Let’s begin by taking a brief look at the history of the UEFA Super Cup.
UEFA Super Cup History
The first UEFA Super Cup Final took place in 1972, although this match was not officially recognised by UEFA (who regard the 1973 final as the first official tournament). Ajax defeated Rangers over two legs in 1972 and then the Dutch aces won the 1973 final, again over two legs, defeating Milan 6-1 on aggregate.
Originally, the Super Cup was a two-legged tie contested by the winners of the European Cup and the Cup Winners Cup. However, in 1999 the Cup Winners Cup was discontinued by UEFA and since then, the match has been played by the Champions League Winners and the Europa League Winners.
The final was played over two legs up until 1997 (bar three occasions when it was contested over one leg, and three occasions when it was not played at all). From 1997 onwards, the final was contested over a single contest, initially being played at the Stade Louis II stadium in Monaco between 1998 and 2012.
However, since then, UEFA has elected to move the final across various stadiums and in recent years it has been contested in Prague, Cardiff, Tblisi, Trondheim, Skopje and this year in Tallinn. Next year the final will be contested in Istanbul and in 2020 in Porto.
Barcelona and Milan have won the most Super Cup trophies, with five wins apiece. Barcelona have finished runner’s up on four occasions also. Other teams with multiple wins include both this year’s finalists Real Madrid (who have four wins) and Atletico Madrid (who have two). Liverpool have won the trophy on three occasions and Ajax, Anderlecht, Valencia, Juventus each have two wins on their record.
Spanish clubs have won the trophy on 14 occasions, ahead of Italian clubs with 9 wins and English clubs with seven wins.
2018 UEFA Super Cup
- Date: Wednesday 15th August 2018
- Kick Off: 9pm EST (8pm UK)
- Venue: Le Coq Arena, Talllinn (Estonia)
- Referee: Szymon Marciniak (Poland)
Champions League Winners – Real Madrid
- Super Cup Finals Appearances – (6) 1998, 2000, 2002, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018
- Super Cup Winners – (4) 2002, 2014, 2016, 2017
Real Madrid Squad
Manager – Julen Lopetegui
Lopetegui’s appointment as Real Madrid coach on the eve of Spain’s World Cup Finals appearance saw him removed as National team boss on the eve of the first game of the tournament and many questioned the timing of the announcement. Lopetegui has top level experience as a manager of Spain u21’s, FC Porto and the Spanish National team.
Goalkeepers
- Thibaut Courtois
- Keylor Navas
- Andriy Lunin
- Kiko Casilla
Defenders
- Raphael Varane
- Sergio Ramos
- Nacho Fernandez
- Jesus Vallejo
- Cani Carvajal
- Fabio Coentrao
- Alvaro Odriozola
Midfielders
- Casemiro
- Marcos Llorente
- Toni Kroos
- Luka Modric
- Dani Ceballos
- Isco
- Federico Valverde
Attackers
- Marco Asensio
- Vinicius Junior
- Gareth Bale
- Lucas Vasquez
- Karim Benzema
- Borja Mayoral
Transfers In (from 2017-18) – Vinicius Junior (Flamengo), Thibaut Courtois (Chelsea), Alvaro Odriozola (Real Sociedad), Andriy Lunin (Zorya Luhansk),
Transfers Out (from 2017-18) – Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus), Omar Mascarell (Schalke 04), Lucas Torro (Eintracht Frankfurt), Philipp Lienhart (SC Freiburg), Theo Hernandez (Real Sociedad – Loan), Mateo Kovacic (Chelsea – Loan), Achraf Hakimi (Dortmund – Loan)
With their talismanic striker Cristiano Ronaldo leaving the club in the summer to join Juventus, expect Gareth Bale and Marco Asensio to play much bigger roles for Julen Lopetegui’s new look Real Madrid this season. Modric and Kroos will still anchor the midfield but it will be how well they cope without the goals of Ronaldo that determines whether Real will be challengers for all the top honours once again this season, starting with the Super Cup.
Europa League Winners – Atletico Madrid
- Super Cup Finals Appearances – (2) 2010, 2012
- Super Cup Winners – (2) 2010, 2012
Atletico Madrid Squad
Manager – Diego Simeone
The fiery Argentinean will be entering his 8th year as manager of Atletico Madrid and during his time he has steered the team to two Champions League finals and also the Europa League has been secured twice (once in 2011 and last season). Regarded as one of the finest managers in the world, Simeone may be forced to watch this game from the stands as he serves a suspension for being dismissed against Arsenal in the first leg of the semifinals.
Goalkeepers
Defenders
- Diego Godin (Captain)
- Filipe Luis
- Santiago Arias
- Stefan Savic
- Juanfran
- Lucas Hernandez
- Jose Giminez
Midfielders
- Thomas Partey
- Koke
- Saul Niguez
- Thomas Lemar
- Rodri
- Vitolo
Attackers
- Antoine Griezmann
- Nikola Kalinic
- Angel Correa
- Gelson Martins
- Diego Costa
Transfers In (from 2017-18) – Thomas Lemar (Monaco), Rodri (Villarreal), Nikola Kalinic (Milan), Santiago Arias (PSV), Jonny Castro (Celta Vigo), Antonio Adan (Real Betis), Gelson Martins (Sporting Lisbon)
Transfers Out (from 2017-18) – Kevin Gameiro (Valencia), Diogo Jota (Wolves), Pierre Kunde (Mainz), Sime Vrsaljko (Inter – Loan), Gabi (Al Sadd), Fernando Torres (Sagan Tosu), Jonny Castro (Wolves – Loan), Luciano Vietto (Fulham- Loan), Bernard Mensah (Kayserispor – Loan)
Expect Atletico to stick with their trusted 4-3-3 formation which is based on what has been the best defensive unit in Europe for the last few years. Godin and Giminez provide a rock solid base in defence with Koke and Saul the anchors in midfield. Thomas Lemar will join French compatriot Antoine Griezmann as arguably the two most talented attacking players, while Diego Costa will spearhead the attack.
UEFA Super Cup 2018 – Top Tips
Full Time Result
- Our Tip – Atletico Madrid to win (2/1)
Atletico have a terrible record against Real Madrid in European competition, winning just two of ten matches between the teams, and never winning a crucial two-legged tie or final between the two. However, I feel of the two sides, they are the more settled and stronger team and I think they will nullify Real’s new look attack and perhaps sneak the goal to win the game
Correct Score
- Our Tip – Atletico Madrid 1-0 Real Madrid (15/2)
Atletico do not concede many goals at all and Real, with a very much new look attacking line up and without their key man of the last eight years, may well struggle against this well marshalled Atletico back line. As such, I think if Atletico can grab the first goal, they should hang on to win this game 1-0.
Result Both Teams to Score
- Our Tip – Atletico to win – both teams to score No – 15/4
Based on the predictions above, another possible bet is the Result/Both Teams to score market at Bet365, which has Atletico to win but just one team scoring as a 15/4 chance.
*All odds shown provided by bet365 Sport and correct as of 14:30 UK Time on Mon 13th August.
