Real Madrid look to land first trophy of season in Skopje

The long wait is over. Competitive club football is here again after the summer break, returning with the UEFA Super Cup in the Macedonian capital.

European champions Real Madrid and Europa League winners Manchester United lock horns with both gunning to get their season off to a flying start by clinching the first major piece of silverware up for grabs this term. This mouth-watering clash is headlined by some intriguing reunions: it is United boss Jose Mourinho's first competitive meeting with his old club since leaving the Bernabeu, while erstwhile Old Trafford favourite Cristiano Ronaldo will be bidding to once more sink his former employers.

Los Blancos and the Red Devils have faced off 10 times in European competitions in the past. The LaLiga Santander side have the edge in the head-to-head, with four wins, four draws and just two defeats. The Madrilenians are eyeing up their fourth UEFA Super Cup title: having been beaten in their first two outings in the competition, they have won their last three. What's more, LaLiga Santander outfits have triumphed in seven of the last eight editions.

Zinedine Zidane has a full-strength squad to choose from, with Ronaldo – who missed all the LaLiga Santander champions' pre-season friendlies, having been granted an extended holiday – in line to feature.

"This is our first competitive fixture of the campaign and we're happy that the season is beginning. We're going to prepare for the encounter the way we always do. We know a lot about the opposition, but what really matters to us is what we do. Real Madrid are the best club in the world and the team that everyone wants to beat. Our players are raring to go and hungry to win, which is very important in order to counteract what the opponents will bring to the table," said the French coach at his pre-match press conference.