La Liga rivals Real Madrid and Sevilla kick off their respective campaigns with a UEFA Super Cup clash that will be played on Lerkendal Stadion in Trondheim. Champions League and Europa League winners are keen to open their season on a high and we should expect a highly contested match between two teams which know each other quite well.

Will Real miss Ronaldo?

One of the biggest questions in the Real Madrid camp ahead of the 2016/17 season’s opener is related to Cristiano Ronaldo and his injury. The Portugal star limped out of the EURO 2016 final against France last month with a left knee injury and Zinedine Zidane already announced that it would be incredibly unlikely to Cristiano to feature in Tuesday’s match. Cristiano Ronaldo got back from his vacation three days ahead of the schedule as he appeared at the club’s training ground Valdebebas on Sunday looking to get a head start on his recovery. Real Madrid star wants to accelerate his return, but Zidane needs to be careful with his star performer. Champions League winners Real Madrid got back from a successful preseason tour of the United States and Canada and Zinedine Zidane is looking for a bright start to his club’s official season. He has plenty of reasons to feel optimistic, but there are several aspects that will give him a serious headache ahead of the game against Sevilla. Most importantly, Zidane will be urged to solve a scoring problem as his men were toothless up front with the exception of Mariano who scored while being deployed in front of goal. Alvaro Morata and Karim Benzema will be urged to up their game and help the team when it is most needed.

In addition to Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid will also be without Wales star Gareth Bale, who was left out of the team as Zidane gave his played an extended break after EURO 2016. Karim Benzema has shaken off a hip problem and is expected to start, while defender Pepe and midfielder Toni Kroos are likely to remain on the sidelines. Keylor Navas is out with a foot injury.

A new beginning for Sevilla

Rojiblancos have lost their most important asset this summer and are preparing for a fresh start. Manager Unai Emery left Sevilla for a new challenge away at Paris Saint-Germain and it will be exciting to see how the new boss Jorge Sampaoli will fare in his first ever official game at the helm. Sampaoli will have to prove himself against the men who led the club to three consecutive Europa League triumphs and will beat a heavy load upon his back. His job has been made hard with the departures of several key players from last season, who head out through the exit door as well. Sevilla are preparing for a new season without Ever Banega, Kevin Gameiro and Grzegorz Krychowiak, while Coke and Jose Antonio Reyes also left the club during summer. The club went on to replace their first team members with no less than nine signings. Argentinian slant has been taken on with the arrival of five Sampaoli’s countrymen – Franco Vazquez, Gabriel Mercado, Joaquin Correa, Luciano Vietto and Matias Kranevitter. Sampaoli is aware of the tought challenge that lies ahead, but will be keen to try and surprise Real Madrid to win a trophy that would be a huge boost to him establishing a firm stance at the beginning of his reign. Sevilla are in for a tough start to the new season as they have Barcelona waiting in the two-legged Spanish Super Cup final.

Sampaoli will have almost his full squad to choose from for the upcoming event with the exception of Michael Krohn-Dehli who is out with a fractured kneecap and Benoit Tremoulinas who is suffering from a meniscus tear.

Verdict

Spanish giants head into the UEFA Super Cup clash straight from their preseason and it will be highly exciting to see what Real Madrid and brand new Sevilla will have to offer at the beginning of the season. Rojiblancos new boss Sampaoli is under huge pressure as he begins his reign in Unai Emery’s shoes and you should be advised to back Real Madrid for a win against still insufficiently gelled up Sevilla.

Top Pick: Real Madrid   1.83 (5/6) @BetVictor

Alternative pick 1: Real Madrid / Real Madrid   3.10 (21/10) @Coral

Alternative Pick 2: Both teams to score – yes   1.50 (1/2) @BetVictor