HELSINKI: Champions League winners Real Madrid beat Eintracht Frankfurt 2-0 on Wednesday to win the UEFA Super Cup for a record fifth time and start the season with a trophy.
A first-half goal from David Alaba and another from Karim Benzema in the 65th that moved him into second place on Real’s all-time goalscoring list with 324 goals wrapped up the title for the Spaniards.
Europa League winners Eintracht put up little resistance in the first half and had chances to score, but were eventually beaten by the Spaniards.
Victory also means Real’s Carlo Ancelotti becomes the first manager to lift the trophy four times.
“Eintracht was very close and we found it difficult to find our rhythm, but we did well in the end,” said the Real coach.
“It’s difficult at the beginning of the season to be in good form, but we have now won to start the season well.”
The Italian, who had named the same starting XI that started the Champions League final winners in Paris in May, had special praise for captain Benzema, last season’s top scorer in the Champions League.
“He is a very important player, a team leader,” he said. “If we are here, it is mainly due to his merits, he scored many goals, he finished the season well, he scored a goal today and now he is going for the Ballon d’Or award,” Ancelotti said.
Eintracht were without playmaker Filip Kostic, who is close to a move to Juventus, but looked more disciplined than in last week’s 6-1 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga season opener.
It also created the first chance of the game when Daichi Kamada broke through but couldn’t beat Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois with his low drive in the 14th minute.
Real hit back three minutes later, but Vinicius Jr’s effort was cleared on the line by Tuta. Eintracht goalkeeper Kevin Trapp did well to save another effort from Vinicius Jr.
The goalkeeper, however, misjudged a cross in the 37th and was out of position when Casemiro headed at Alaba and the Austrian headed in from close range for the lead.
Real remained in control after the break, forcing another fine save from Trapp in the 55th, tipping over a deflected Vinicius Jr shot before Casemiro hit the crossbar with a shot from the edge of the area two minutes later.
The pressure eventually paid off when Vinicius Jr combined with Benzema – the pair scored a combined 111 club goals last season – and the French striker slotted in to snuff out any Eintracht hopes of a first Super Cup title.
The win drew Real level with AC Milan and Barcelona, who also have five Super Cup wins.
Score: Real Madrid 2 (Alaba 37, Benzema 65) vs Eintracht Frankfurt 0
If we are here, it is mainly due to his (Benzema) merits, he scored a lot of goals, he finished the season well, he scored a goal today and now he is going for the Ballon d’Or award.
