A dual display of pitch-perfect defending and off-the-ball vision in Helsinki, Finland, brought Real Madrid a fifth UEFA Super Cup success in eight appearances, as goals either side of half-time proved enough to give Real a 2-0 victory in their first clash with Frankfurt since the 1960 European Cup final.🏆✒️ Most #SuperCup wins: 5⃣ Real Madrid5⃣ AC Milan5⃣ Barcelona pic.twitter.com/HvocDS0OL4— #SuperCup (@ChampionsLeague) August 10, 2022 That particular final ended in a rip-roaring 7-3 victory for the Spanish behemoths, but Europa League holders Frankfurt showed they were in no mood for a repeat, and brought out the best in Thibaut Courtois inside the opening quarter-hour with two point-blank saves. Real rallied quickly however, with Vinícius Júnior’s goalbound shot being blocked on the line by Tuta, and there was always a feeling of increased control from Real from that point on.That finally paid dividends on 37 minutes, after a Vinícius Júnior shot from a narrow angle was tipped wide by Kevin Trapp. From the resulting corner, an instinctive ball found the head of Casemiro, who needed only to head back for an unmarked David Alaba to tap home and draw first blood for the Galacticos. Minutes later, Karim Benzema had a golden chance to all but end the game before halftime, only to see a half volley fizz wide of Trapp’s left post.Goal by Alaba and assist by Casemiro 🤩pic.twitter.com/64Wf5IUZAy— Omar Aref 🇦🇪 (@LosB1ancos_) August 10, 2022 Real emerged after halftime looking typically determined, keeping possession impeccably while willing runners timed their moves to perfection. In two examples of exquisite Real play, a series of passes saw the ball find its way to Vinícius Júnior inside the box, but his low shot was saved well by Trapp to keep Frankfurt in the contest, before Casemiro hit the bar after latching onto a Toni Kross play, with Trapp all but beaten.Champions League winners had lifted the Super Cup in eight of the previous nine editions before kick-off, and Real ensured yet another contribution with 25 minutes to play. Vinicius darted down the left wing, and he needed only to find Benzema in acres of space, who fired low past the wrong-footed Trapp’s glove, duly becoming Real’s second-highest outright top scorer behind Cristiano Ronaldo.Frankfurt were visibly drained by that killer blow, but even with the game as good as won, Vinícius Júnior and Benzema in particular caused Frankfurt problems right until the final whistle. Ultimately, this was just business as usual for Real, whose record-equalling fifth Super Cup triumph never looked in real danger under the pitch-perfect tactics of continental king Carlo Ancelotti.UEFA SUPER CUPReal Madrid – Eintracht Frankfurt 2-0 (1-0)/Alaba 37, Benzema 65/▫️ Champions League▫️ La Liga▫️ Spanish Super Cup▫️ UEFA Super CupReal Madrid lift their 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘁𝗵 trophy in 2022 🏆 pic.twitter.com/I4ahK2G8Kq— B/R Football (@brfootball) August 10, 2022 ©FlashScore
