While Kylian Mbappé is expected to make his Real Madrid debut from the start of the European Super Cup next Wednesday, Atalanta look as if Nicolò Zaniolo and Teun Koopmeiners will miss out.
This is the traditional pre-season showdown between the winners of the Champions League and holders of the Europa League.
It kicks off in Warsaw on Wednesday at 20.00 UK time.
European Super Cup edges closer
The event was meant to be a wonderfully prestigious one for La Dea, fresh from winning their first ever UEFA piece of silverware and in a financial position to reject big offers.
However, it has been a series of calamities over the summer, as first Giorgio Scalvini and then Gianluca Scamacca were ruled out for six months by torn anterior cruciate ligaments.
Now Zaniolo looks increasingly likely to miss the Super Cup as well, suffering from tendonitis in his left foot, the same area that saw a microfracture force him out of EURO 2024.
The Italy international had specialist tests this week and is still not training with the rest of the team today.
Koopmeiners was going to be the star man in midfield, but coach Gian Piero Gasperini revealed he was refusing to play because he wants to force through a transfer to Juventus.
It leaves Atalanta decimated and forced to probably start new signing Mateo Retegui just days after he completed the €28m move from Genoa.
As for Real Madrid, reports from Spain today suggest that former PSG hero Mbappé will be in the starting XI for his debut in the Super Cup.
Jude Bellingham could also play, as he is recovering well from a shoulder injury that saw him struggle throughout EURO 2024, but it is more likely that Arda Guler and Vinicius Junior will complete the trident attack.