IMAGE: Real Madrid’s players celebrate after winning the UEFA Super Cup after beating Eintracht Frankfurt 2-0 at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium, Helsinki, on Wednesday. Photograph: Emmi Korhonen/Lehtikuva via Reuters
Champions League winners Real Madrid outclassed Eintracht Frankfurt 2-0 on Wednesday to clinch the UEFA Super Cup for a record-equalling fifth time and kick off their season with a trophy.
A first half goal from David Alaba and another from Karim Benzema in the 65th that lifted him to second in Real’s all-time scoring list with 324 goals, wrapped up the title for the Spaniards.
Europa League winners Eintracht had offered some resistance in the first half and had chances to score but were eventually overrun by the Spaniards.
The win also means Real’s Carlo Ancelotti becomes the first coach to lift the trophy four times.
“Eintracht were very closed and we found it difficult to find our rhythm, but we did it well then,” the Real coach said.
“It’s difficult at the beginning of the season to be in top form but we now have won to start the season well.”
IMAGE: David Alaba scores the first goal for Real Madrid. Photograph: Emmi Korhonen/Lehtikuva via Reuters
The Italian, who had named the same starting 11 that began their winning Champions League final in Paris in May, had special praise for captain Benzema, last season’s top scorer in the Champions League.
“He’s a very important player, a team leader,” he said. “If we’re here it’s largely due to his merits, he scored a lot of goals, he finished the season well, he scored a goal today and now he’s going for the Ballon d’Or award,” said Ancelotti.
Eintracht were without playmaker Filip Kostic who is close to a move to Juventus, but looked more disciplined than in their 6-1 loss to Bayern Munich last week in their Bundesliga season opener.
They also carved out the first chance of the game when Daichi Kamada broke clear but could not beat Real keeper Thibaut Courtois with his low drive in the 14th minute.
IMAGE: Real Madrid’s players celebrate after Karim Benzema scored the second goal for Real Madrid. Photograph: Emmi Korhonen/Lehtikuva via Reuters
Real responded three minutes later but Vinicius Jr’s effort was cleared on the line by Tuta. Eintracht keeper Kevin Trapp did well to palm another Vinicius Jr effort wide.
The keeper, however, misjudged a cross in the 37th and was well out of position when Casemiro headed on for Alaba and the Austrian tapped in from close range for the lead.
Real stayed in control after the break, forcing another good save from Trapp in the 55th, knocking away a deflected Vinicius Jr shot before Casemiro rattled the crossbar with a shot from the edge of the box 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 forward slotted in to kill off any lingering Eintracht hopes of a first ever Super Cup title.
The win brought Real level with AC Milan and Barcelona who have also five Super Cup wins.
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