Soccer

Karim Benzema on target as Real Madrid win European Super Cup

Champions League winners beat Eintracht Frankfurt to claim early season silverware

Real Madrid's Karim Benzema celebrates scoring against Eintracht Frankfurt in Helsinki. Photograph: Getty Images
Real Madrid's Karim Benzema celebrates scoring against Eintracht Frankfurt in Helsinki. Photograph: Getty Images
Wed Aug 10 2022 - 22:17

Real Madrid 2 Eintracht Frankfurt 0

Champions League winners Real Madrid outclassed Eintracht Frankfurt 2-0 on Wednesday to clinch the Uefa Super Cup for a record-equalling fifth time.

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.

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The Italian had named the same starting 11 that began their winning Champions League final in Paris in May.

[ Uefa apologises to Liverpool and Real Madrid fans over Champions League chaos ]

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.

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.