Real Madrid lifts UEFA Super Cup after defeating Eintracht Frankfurt 2-0
Real Madrid won yet another trophy as they beat reigning UEFA Europa League champions Eintracht Frankfurt 2-0 courtesy of goals from David Alaba and Karim Benzema to help them lift the UEFA Super Cup trophy in the 2022 edition.
The Madrid-based side won the UEFA Super Cup for the fifth time which is the joint highest number of wins matched only by arch-rivals Barcelona and Italy’s AC Milan.
Carlo Ancelotti who won the 24th title of his managerial career named the same starting XI that defeated Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League final less than 75 days ago. On the other hand, the German club was missing the services of Filip Kostic who has been prized away by Juventus.
Frankfurt’s Jesper Lindstrom got the big chance of the match as Los Blancos goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois made a good save despite the Danish midfielder being offside. The 22-year old then set up Daichi Kamada through on goal but the Belgian custodian came out on top once again to preserve his clean sheet on the night. At the other end, Vinicius Junior almost found the back of the net but Tuta’s goal-line clearance came to Frankfurt’s aid.
Madrid was putting the pressure with constant pressing but Frankfurt’s low defensive block kept the reigning La Liga champions out until the 37th minute. From a set-piece routine, Benzema and Casemiro’s headers found Alaba unmarked with an empty goal gaping and the former Bayern Munich man opened the scoring on the evening with ease.
At the hour mark, Casemiro almost doubled his joy on the night after the assist as he hit the crossbar which was followed by a calm Benzema finish seven minutes later to call an end to the proceedings.
Mario Gotze also featured in the match for more than half an hour after being introduced off the bench in the 58th minute while Antonio Rudiger and Aurelien Tchouameni were handed debuts as 85th-minute substitutes for the La Liga champions.
Ancelotti has rewritten his name in the Real Madrid legends book once again as he has managed to win 4 UEFA Champions League titles with the club and has become the first manager to win 4 UEFA Super Cups as well.
The Real Madrid manager was full of praise for French forward Karim Benzema who netted yet another important goal for the club and lifted his first trophy as the Real Madrid captain as well.
He said,
“He is a very important player, a leader of the team, we are here on our own merit and on his, he has scored a lot of goals. He finished the season well and he has started it well and nobody has any doubt that he should be the Ballon d’Or. I think nobody doubts it, but in football, anything can happen.”
Benzema also overtook Real Madrid legend, Raul, to become the club’s all-time second-highest goalscorer, only behind Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo. Several fans and pundits have pointed out the lack of cover in the striker’s position for the 34-year old, especially with the 2022 FIFA World Cup scheduled to take place in the second half of November and December.
The Madrid No.9 explained how the departure of Ronaldo has influenced a change of role for him with the France striker contributing 131 goals in the last four seasons and needs 116 more in the next few seasons to match the Manchester United player’s record.
He exclaimed,
“It’s been different for me since Cristiano Ronaldo left Real Madrid. It’s true that I’ve scored many more goals, but when Cristiano was here, we had a different style of play, I was providing more assists. He really helped me on and off the pitch. But at that time, I did know that I could do more and when he left, it was the time to change my game, change my ambitions and I am doing that well at the moment.”
Before signing off, Benzema also discussed the Balon d’Or award while Ancelotti also backed him to win the honor this year.
Benzema said,
“I’m not going to say if I’m the best or not, but, each year I try to give my maximum for the best club in the world. I have to play to a high level every year, but it’s true that last year’s level was very good.”
