Super Eagles winger Ademola Lookman has declared that Real Madrid are the favorites to lift the UEFA Super Cup in Poland, today, but he and his Atalanta teammates are not backing down from the challenge.

Real Madrid, the undisputed kings of Europe, are on a quest for their sixth Super Cup triumph.

Atalanta, on the other hand, are making their debut in this prestigious one-match competition, having secured their first-ever European trophy by winning the Europa League in May.

Their dramatic 3-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League final not only crowned them champions but also ended Leverkusen’s remarkable 51-game unbeaten streak.

Lookman was the star of that unforgettable night in Dublin, tearing Leverkusen apart with a sensational hat-trick and becoming the first player to do so in the tournaments’s final history.

His heroics ensured Atalanta’s name was etched in the record books, and his performance earned him the well-deserved title of man-of the-match.

As Real Madrid prepares to let out their star-studded arsenal, including their newest signing Kylian Mbappe, who finally realized his dream move to the Santiago Bernabéu, all eyes will once again be on Lookman.

The Nigerian winger will be hoping to deliver another show-stopping performance on the world stage.

“Am I afraid of Real? I don’t want to disrespect Bayer Leverkusen, but the whole squad is excited to play against Real Madrid,” Lookman said during the pre-match press conference.

Real Madrid captain Nacho Fernández lifts the trophy as Carlo Ancelotti looks on during the UEFA Champions League 2023/24 final match. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“We deserve to be here. We won the Europa League final and tomorrow we have another opportunity to show our qualities.

“We are very happy to be here, and we will do everything to win the match. Let each of us give 110%, that is the best we can do.”

It’s worth noting that the last time Atalanta faced Real Madrid, it was in the Champions League Round of 16 in 2021.

Real Madrid secured a 1-0 victory in Bergamo and followed it up with a 3-1 win in Spain, but Lookman is not dwelling on past encounters.

“They’re a top team with top players. I don’t think there’s ever a perfect time to play against them,” he added.

“But we’re focused on ourselves and our game, on how we can play. Real are dangerous, but we’ve got the skills too, and they’ll have to stop us as well.”

Atalanta will be without some key players, including Giorgio Scalvini, El Bilal Touré, Teun Koopmeiners, Gianluca Scamacca, and Nicolò Zaniolo, who are all sidelined due to injuries or other reasons.

Despite these absences, Lookman remains confident in Atalanta’s ability to rise to the occasion.