UEFA Super Cup: Format and past winners of trophy match between Champions League and Europa League holders

Real Madrid take on Atalanta in the 2024 UEFA Super Cup.

The Champions League winners face the Europa League holders at the National Stadium in Warsaw, Poland on August 14.

Real Madrid’s five UEFA Super Cup titles is the joint-most of any team, alongside AC Milan and Barcelona, and they have the chance to create history by winning a record sixth in Wednesday’s clash.

The match in Warsaw will be significant for Atalanta too, as they make their debut in the competition after beating the excellent Bayer Leverkusen thanks to a hat-trick from Ademola Lookman in the Europa League final back in May. Gian Piero Gasperini’s Italian side are once again underdogs, but doubt them at your peril. 

MORE: When is the Champions League league group-stage draw?

UEFA Super Cup format

The UEFA Super Cup was first known as the European Super Cup when it was played in 1973.

It’s an annual match that takes place to determine the best team in Europe. It also serves as a curtain-raiser for the European club season.

While its format has evolved over the years, the structure remains unchanged since it was renamed in 1995. The single-leg final features the previous season’s Champions League winner against the reigning Europa League champion.

Previously, the European Cup winners faced the UEFA Cup winners. The UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup was replaced by the UEFA Cup/Europa League in 2000.

Until 1998, the final was played over two legs but more recently it is now a single match at a neutral venue.

UEFA Super Cup past winners

Despite being framed as an ‘extra game’ in the club calendar, this is still viewed as a key trophy to secure, with the Champions League holder flexing their muscles and winning 10 of the last 11 finals.

*Finals from 1973 to 1999 are based on an aggregate final score over two legs.

Source