Manchester United vs Real Madrid - as it happened: Los Blancos retain Super Cup trophy

Re-live all the action from the clash in Skopje, Macedonia

United face Madrid in Skopje (Getty)

Manchester United face Real Madrid in the annual European curtain-raiser as the Europa League winners take on the reigning Champions League holders. Follow the latest here.

• Real Madrid vs Real Madrid kicks off at 19:45 BST
• United to include new signings Romelu Lukaku and Nemanja Matic
• Real name Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale in squad
• Jose Mourinho admits interest in signing Bale
• Full match preview: Super Cup a chance for Mourinho to shine

Follow the live action below...

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Preview...

Arguably the two biggest teams in world football go head to head in the final of the Super Cup on Tuesday. The Champions League winners, Real Madrid, will be fighting for the first piece of real silverware of the season with Europa League victors Manchester United.

The teams will be managed by two equal giants, Madrid by Zidane and United by Madrid’s former manager Jose Mourinho. With those two at the helm it’s sure to be as much as a technical battle in the dugout as it is on the pitch.

It will be a real test for United, their first competitive game against a Champions League level club since their early exit in 2015. Mourinho’s men have struggled in the league, finishing a disappointing 6th place last season, but they’ll want to start the new season the same way they finished the last- with some silverware in hand.

Mourinho may have lifted the Europa league and League Cup last season, but despite leading Inter Milan and Porto to three different European Trophies, the Super Cup remains one of the only major European trophies to evade his hands - he’ll be hoping to change this.

Madrid, on the other hand, have had a poor pre-season, losing to both Man City and Barcelona. The European champions will be hoping to send a message to their domestic rivals to let them know they’re back in the game. With La Liga starting again in a week or so, the momentum will be welcomed.

And of course, no game would be complete without Cristiano Ronaldo dominating headlines both on and off the pitch. He faces his former club amongst increasing speculation that he’s due a move back there.

The two teams have already met once this summer (Getty)

What time does it start and where can I watch it?

You can catch Manchester United vs Real Madrid on BT Sport 2 this Tuesday, with kick off being at 19:45 and coverage starting at 19:00.

It’s a big game for...

Zinedine Zidane. The Real Madrid manager doesn’t often grab headlines and his former teammates noted him to be a man of few words, but Zidane is rapidly making a name for himself as one of the best in the game. Already having a Super Cup, 2 Champions Leagues and a La Liga title under his belt, he’ll be looking to add another one to that Super Cup tally.

Zidane led Madrid to a domestic and European double last season but things haven't gone to plan this summer (Getty Images)

Best stat…

8 - The amount of years since Madrid have lost to an English club. 4-0 to Liverpool.

Remember when…

Not long ago United and Madrid met in a pre-season friendly. A lacklustre game which was summed up by possibly the worst penalty shootout you will ever see. Take a watch…

Player to watch…

Romelu Lukaku. United’s headline summer signing has had a good pre-season, bagging 3 goals in 6 games. This will be his first test as a player against a top class European club and with that huge price tag over his head he’ll be keen to show the fans where their money is going.

Past three-meetings…

United 1 (Ramos OG) Real Madrid 2 (Modric, Ronaldo), Champions League Round of 16, Second Leg, March 2013

United 1 (Welbeck) Real Madrid 1, (Ronaldo), Champions League Round of 16, First Leg, February 2013

United 4 (Beckham 2, Helguera OG, Van Nistelrooy) Real Madrid 3 (Ronaldo 3), Champions League Quarter Final Second Leg, April 2003

Ronald McDonald won't be making an appearance in Skopje (Manchester United) (Manchester United vs Real Madrid)

Form guide…

Manchester United: LDLDWW

Real Madrid: WLWWWW

Odds…

Manchester United to win: 11/4

Real Madrid to win: 1/1

Draw:5/2

(Odds provided by 888 Sport)

[8 August 2017 16:07 · Jack de Menezes]

Good evening and welcome to The Independent's live coverage of the Uefa Super Cup clash between Manchester United and Real Madrid, brought to you from the Philip II National Arena in Skopje, Macedonia.

[8 August 2017 16:11 · Jack de Menezes]

The Super Cup sees the two European champions, the Champions League winners and the Europa League holders, collide ahead of the new season to crown the true champions of the continent.

[8 August 2017 17:22 · Jack de Menezes]

Let's start our look ahead to the game...

The Super Cup is never usually a calendar highlight. But with two teams of the calibre of Manchester United and Real Madrid making up the showdown - which strangely is taking place in Macedonia - there's an extra edge to this fixture this year.

There's also the Jose Mourinho factor. The former Real manager never turns down an opportunity to beat one of his former employers, and this will be no different. It's that determination to win that gives this Super Cup an additional dimension, making it more meaningful than ever.

Miguel Delaney explains:

[8 August 2017 17:45 · Jack de Menezes]

It was this match that, four years ago, proved to be the beginning of the end for Romelu Lukaku at Chelsea under - you guessed it - Jose Mourinho.

Mark Critchley looks back on how that game had such a drastic consequence on the futures of Lukaku, Chelsea, United and Mourinho, and what it all means today:

[8 August 2017 18:00 · Jack de Menezes]

There's no love lost between Real Madrid and Mourinho, as Sergio Ramos perfectly summed up yesterday evening. The Real captain admitted there is nothing special about 'The Special One' as they prepare to renew their rivalry. 

[8 August 2017 18:15 · Jack de Menezes]

There's been plenty of talk again about a possible United return for Cristiano Ronaldo. The player himself has spoken of his desire this week to return to Old Trafford one day, though it seems, unsurprisingly, that Real aren't so keen to oblige.

Here's the full story:

[8 August 2017 18:30 · Jack de Menezes]

What was the exact moment where Ronaldo proved he was in fact a world class player? Gary Neville believes he's pin-pointed the moment that CR7 suddenly became a world-beater: 

[8 August 2017 18:42 · Samuel Lovett]

Team news!

[8 August 2017 18:43 · Samuel Lovett]

Team news!

[8 August 2017 18:50 · Samuel Lovett]

Jose Mourinho has gone with a strong-looking side for tonight's game, with Paul Pogba and Romelu Lukaku taking to the field together in their first competitive fixture. Phil Jones and Eric Bailly will be forced to watch from the sidelines as they continue to serve out their suspension sentences while Marcus Rashford and Juan Mata have been named on the bench.