Real defeated Eintracht 2-0 to celebrate a record fifth UEFA Super Cup win


HELSINKI : Champions League winners Real Madrid outclassed Eintracht Frankfurt 2-0 on Wednesday to lift the UEFA Super Cup for the fifth time and start the season with a trophy.

A first-half goal from David Alaba and another from Karim Benzema in the 65th minute that put him second in Real’s all-time scorers’ chart with 324 goals secured the Spaniards the title.

Europa League winners Eintracht put up some resistance and had chances to score in the first half but were eventually overtaken by the Spaniards.

The win also means Real’s Carlo Ancelotti becomes the first manager to lift the trophy four times.

“Eintracht was very tight and we had trouble finding our rhythm, but then we did well,” said the Real coach.

“It’s difficult to be in top form at the beginning of the season, but now we’ve won to start the season well.”

The Italian, who fielded the same starting XI that went on to win the Champions League final in Paris in May, had particular praise for captain Benzema, the top scorer in last season’s Champions League.

“He’s a very important player, a team leader,” he said. “If we’re here it’s mainly because of his merits. He scored a lot of goals, he ended the season well, he scored a goal today and now he’s aiming for the Ballon d’Or,” said Ancelotti.

Eintracht were without playmaker Filip Kostic, who is on the verge of a move to Juventus but appeared more disciplined than in last week’s 6-1 defeat by Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga opener.

They also created the first chance of the game when Daichi Kamada broke free but Real keeper Thibaut Courtois couldn’t beat his low shot in the 14th minute.

Real replied three minutes later but Vinicius Jr’s try was cleared by Tuta on the line. Eintracht keeper Kevin Trapp did well to miss another shot from Vinicius Jr.

However, the keeper misjudged a cross in the 37th minute and was well out of position when Casemiro headed in to Alaba and the Austrian took the lead from close range.

Real remained in control after the break, forcing another good save from Trapp in the 55th and smashing away a deflected shot from Vinicius Jr before Casemiro hit the bar with a shot from the edge of the box two minutes later.

The pressure finally paid off as Vinicius Jr combined with Benzema – the pair scored 111 club goals together last season – and the French striker lashed out to shatter any remaining Eintracht hopes of a maiden Supercup title.

The win put Real on par with AC Milan and Barcelona, ​​who also have five Supercup victories.