Recipe for goals in showpiece Madrid derby

The 2018 Super Cup Final between Real Madrid and city neighbours, Atlético is likely to form the basis of a pub quiz question in years to come given the offbeat location of the venue that will play host to this all Spanish affair. The A. Le Coq Arena in the Estonian capital of Tallinn will earn itself a place on the football map when the Champions League and Europa League winners go head-to-head in a fixture which represents a chance to win another trophy, but more so, serves as ideal preparation ahead of the new La Liga season just upon us.

Real Madrid

It has been quite a summer at the Bernabéu. Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the entire time, you’ll be aware that Cristiano Ronaldo has finally followed through with his intention to leave Los Blancos and joined Juventus. But before this came about Zinedine Zidane decided to use his third successive Champions League title to quit while ahead, a decision that left Madrid, for a while, in a state of shock.

It's the start of a whole new era for Real.

Former Spain manager Julen Lopetegul is the man tasked to match the stunning achievements of Zidane, while Gareth Bale looks set to be granted his wish of first-team football – he will attempt to fill the huge void created by the departure of CR7, in tandem with Karim Benzema and Marco Asensio; it's the start of a whole new era for Real.

Big things are eventually expected of new kid on the block Vinícius Júnior who has arrived from Flamengo. The protracted signing of former Atlético keeper Thibaut Courtois, though harsh on Keylor Navas, adds some star quality to a side unusually lacking in big names and stokes up this clash rather nicely, especially after kissing the badge of his new club despite three successful years playing for Diego Simone’s side.

The former Chelsea stopper is unlikely to start in Tallinn given how little time he has spent with his new teammates, while the uncertainty surrounding the future of Luka Modric, in addition to his World Cup exploits with Croatia, should see him begin the game on the bench. Upcoming defender Jesus Vallejo may have been given a chance to stake a claim for a first team place in Lopetegui’s new-look side but injury rules him out of contention in the only absentee for the 13-time European Cup winners.

Atlético Madrid

If you can’t beat them, then join ‘em, so they say. Not normally known for shelling out huge sums of money to acquire players, Atléti smashed their club record transfer fee to sign French international Thomas Lemar from Monaco for close to £53 million. His ability to create and play anywhere across the forward line, should give a predictably pragmatic Atlético, a new edge in attack where they still boast the devastating partnership of Diego Costa and Antoine Greizmann - in the case of the latter, having rejected the lures of Barcelona to sign a new deal at the Metropolitan Stadium. The further arrivals of Nikola Kalinic and Gelson Fernades represent a solid summer of transfer business for Simone.

This showpiece final will allow Los Rojiblancos to lay down an early marker against their rivals

Ahead of another highly anticipated closely fought battle for the La Liga title, more intriguing this time around for the fact the two major players in Barça and Real Madrid are learning to cope without club legends in Iniesta and Ronaldo, this showpiece final will allow Los Rojiblancos to lay down an early marker against their rivals.

Atlético are undoubtedly the most settled of the three sides and appear in the best shape with the start of La Liga just around the corner. Lemar returned to pre-season training two weeks earlier than planned to acclimatize himself with his new surroundings; he looks set to start alongside fellow new boy Gelson Martins.

World Cup Winner Griezmann has only just returned to club duties after his successful summer in Russia, so other new recruit Kalinic will be given an early chance to impress in the famous red and white stripes, his condition not in question given he was sent home early by World Cup Runners-up Croatia for refusing to come on as a substitute in his country’s opening game.

Match Tip

Real Madrid hold the upper hand in terms of recent results in Europe - Atlético have succumb to the powers of Ronaldo and co. in each of the last four Champions League campaigns, including two finals. However, without the great man the game has an even feel about it.

Naturally things may take a while to get going in Tallinn, with it being the first competitive game of the season and all. But with local pride and a trophy at stake, neither side will want to end on the losing side. Both should at least register inside 90 minutes in another closely fought clash.

The odds are pretty even across the market for both teams to score, but I've found slightly more value at 4/5 (1.90) with sportingbet.

Bet Both teams to score (BTTS) on Sportingbet