Going behind-the-scenes of a Balkans battle we spent 24 hours in the Macedonian capital of Skopje with adidas Football as UEFA brought their Super Cup to town. Real Madrid and Manchester United are notorious for chasing silverware across borders and Macedonia provided the new territory for triumph.
From the streets to the seats, with full behind-the-scenes access in the Real Madrid camp we captured the action as goals from Casemiro and Isco were enough to beat Lukaku's solitary strike for Manchester United. A Super Cup showdown on unchartered soil saw the Spanish celebrate, the English optimistic, and the locals happy as UEFA paraded the Champions League and Europa League winners.
Pre-match build up to post-match parade, and right in the mixer. Arriving with the squad and ghosting through the eerily quiet changing room before Real Madrid royalty got ready for work, a glimpse at how the elite live and work. Up close with the work tools of football's biggest names as adidas rolled out their new 'Ocean Storm' boot collection. Backstage buzz all over.
A city with a defined culture welcomed in the tourists to help them kick off the new European season, and those same tourists left with a strong impression of a country far deeper than the derogatory minnow status it often receives on the international stage. Heavyweight scenery for the very top of football's hierarchy. 2017/18, we go again.
Photography by Rich MacIver for SoccerBible.
