Real Madrid 2-0 wins over Eintracht Frankfurt to clinch the UEFA Super Cup at Helsinki’s Olympic Stadium on Wednesday night. Goals from David Alaba and Karim Benzema help Real Madrid win the title for a record-equalling fifth time.
Evergreen Real Madrid boys are still on fire
A first-half goal from David Alaba and another from Karim Benzema in the 65th minute that moved him past Raul to second in Real’s all-time scoring list with 324 goals, only one position behind club legend Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Italian coach spoke about Benzema’s performance, “He’s a very important player, a team leader. 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.”
Real Madrid’s control of the middle of the pitch was also key in this game, dominating possession and leaving Frankfurt chasing shadows. Casemiro caught the eye — his first-half header set up David Alaba with a straightforward finish for the opening goal, while he rattled the crossbar with a left-footed shot with an hour played — and Toni Kroos produced a seamless display, moving the ball quickly and efficiently and consistently making smart choices, while Valverde was electric on the right-hand side.
Another trophy for the Italian coach
The win also means Real’s Carlo Ancelotti becomes the most successful coach to lift the trophy four times, twice with AC Milan in 2003 and 2007, and now twice with Real Madrid in 2014 and this year.
This was a near-flawless performance against a Frankfurt team that are some way ahead of Madrid in their early season preparations, with their Bundesliga campaign already underway. There were also some clever tweaks to the team when the German side looked like getting on top in the first half, switching Valverde inside to give Madrid another body in central midfield.
“It wasn’t an easy game, they were entrenched in their own half, but we managed to score and we controlled it well afterwards,” Carlo Ancelotti said.
“At the start of the season, you can’t expect the team to be already at 100 percent, but we won and we have started the season well. I believe it can help us achieve better results and winning helps motivate the players.”
