La Liga champions Atletico Madrid have an early season chance to avenge their defeat to Real Madrid in May’s Champions League final in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup on Tuesday.
Despite having arguably Atletico’s best ever season, Diego Simeone’s men have still suffered from the departure of a number of key players over the close season as Filipe Luis and Diego Costa joined Chelsea and Thibaut Courtois returned to Stamford Bridge after a three-year loan spell.
The money received from the sales of Costa and Filipe Luis has however been reinvested in an exciting new frontline as Mario Mandzukic joined from Bayern Munich, Mexican international Raul Jimenez was signed from Club America, and Antoine Griezmann moved from Real Sociedad for 30 million euros ($40 million, £24 million).
All three are in line to make their competitive debutes at the Santiago Bernabeu, but playmaker Arda Turan misses out due to a hamstring injury.
And midfielder Mario Suarez is determined to make amends for their heartbreaking 4-1 defeat to Real after extra time in Lisbon three months ago having been just over a minute away from wining the Champions League for the first time in the club’s history.
Real haven’t rested on their laurels after claiming a tenth European crown as they have splashed over 100 million euros on World Cup stars James Rodriguez, Toni Kroos and goalkeeper Keylor Navas.
Colombian Rodriguez and Germany playmaker Kroos made an immediate impact in their debuts as Real won the first of a potential six trophies this season by defeating Sevilla 2-0 to win the UEFA Super Cup last week.
However, Navas has had to wait for his opportunity as Iker Casillas started against Sevilla in Cardiff despite his poor form in Spain’s disastrous campaign at the World Cup.
Real boss Carlo Ancelotti, though, hasn’t yet declared who his first choice ‘keeper for the campaign will be and Navas is willing to push Casillas for his place in the side.
The second leg will be played at Atletico’s Vicente Calderon stadium on Friday evening before both clubs begin their league campaigns next Monday.
