Sports Blog 08/08/2017: UEFA Super Cup Preview – Real Madrid vs Manchester United, Tuesday 8th August 2017

Can Man United pick up some early silverware with a Super Cup win over Real Madrid in Skopje?

2016/17 managed to be both a great debut season for Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford, and something of a disappointment. Victory in the EFL Cup and, crucially, the Europa League were nice counterweights to the limp 6th place finish in the Premier League. But underperforming domestically shouldn’t be taken lightly – remember during Louis van Gaal’s 2 seasons in charge United finished in 4th and 5th – and Mourinho will be desperate to prove he hasn’t lost his Premier League touch in the coming months.



Before all that, however, is a chance to get a taste of how United may fare in this season’s Champions League. Mourinho is already on record in saying that the likes of Real and Barcelona – the latter of whom beat the Red Devils in a friendly at the end of July – are on a different level to United, and Tuesday’s fixture will likely post a much greater test then Sunday’s visit from West Ham.

If they are to compete for the Super Cup Romelu Lukaku – one of the more expensive acquisitions this transfer window, costing £75 million – needs to match the free-scoring form of the departed Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Even with the big Swede United had serious troubles going forwards last season, scoring a paltry 54 goals in the Premier League. Lukaku – who has a Super Mega PGM spread of 31-37 – netted 25 times for Everton, and could provide the injection of attacking nous Mourinho is in desperate need of.

As for Real, they’ve been fairly subdued in the transfer market, at least compared to some of their European peers. Theo Hernandez and Dani Ceballos have arrived from Atletico Madrid and Real Betis respectively, while the club’s long-gestating move for Monaco’s Kylian Mbappe was dropped in order to appease Man United-target Gareth Bale.

Not that they really need any new blood. Last season saw a bumper haul of silverware, from a second consecutive Champions League title to their first La Liga championship since 2011/12, the FIFA Club World Cup and a record-breaking 3rd UEFA Super Cup.

They’re expected to make it 4 Super Cups on Tuesday, with Spreadex offering a Real Madrid/Manchester United Goal Supremacy spread of 0.25-0.45 alongside a Total Goal spread of 2.7-2.9.