Real Madrid - Manchester United Real Madrid-Manchester United: The European Super Cup at stake!

The European champions are looking for the first trophy of the season in Macedonia against the winner of the Europa League (8:45pm CEST).Real Madrid start the official season as they finished the previous one: playing a final. Winning the last game of last season, against Juventus in Cardiff, set up the chance to play Manchester United as they go in search of their second consecutive European Super Cup (the last team to do so was Milan in 1989 and 1990). The first of six titles which the madridistas will look to win this season will be decided at the Philip II National Arena in Skopje.
 
After almost a month of demanding pre-season work and four big matches in the United States, Zidane's side go in to the game looking to win another trophy. "There will be many key elements to the final and we know a lot about the opponent, but the most important thing is what we do", said the French coach at the pre-match press conference. The Whites´ coach, who has won the four finals he has been involved in on the Madrid bench (Undécima, Duocécima, Club World Cup and European Super Cup), has called up 24 players.
 
Ten games without losing against English teams
The previous record allows for optimism in the fight for the fourth European Super Cup. The Whites, who have only lost one of their last 18 European games (twelve wins and five draws), they haven’t lost in their last ten official matches against English teams (seven wins and three draws). It will also be the eleventh match between Real Madrid and Manchester United and the balance is favourable for the European champions (four wins, four draws and two defeats).The opponents are the champions of the Europa League, having defeated Ajax in the final and have already faced the madridistas this summer in the first pre-season game for the Whites (1-1). Despite the absence of Rooney, who returned to Everton after 13 seasons at Old Trafford, Manchester United has been strengthened by players likes of Lindelöf, Matic and Lukaku.
 
Undefeated in their last 11 European games
The team coached by José Mourinho, who will play their fourth European Super Cup (they beat Red Star in 1991 and lost to Lazio and Zenit in 1999 and 2008 respectively), come in to the game unbeaten in their last 11 matches in European competition (eight wins and three draws). The Portuguese coach will be without the suspended Bailly and Phil Jones for the first final of a UEFA club competition played in Macedonia.