Helsinki: This time, there were only two goals. David Alaba and Karim Benzema scored in each half for Real Madrid to win the UEFA Super Cup with a 2-0 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday. Alaba prodded the opener home from close range in the 37th minute when Casemiro cushioned Benzema's header back after a corner. The French star then sealed Madrid's record-equaling fifth Super Cup title in the 65th thanks to an assist from the lively Vincius Jnior.
It was Benzema's 324th goal for Madrid, overtaking club legend Ral. Only Cristiano Ronaldo has more after scoring 450 goals for the club between 2009-18. Benzema, who also joined Madrid in 2009, lifted the trophy for Madrid, his first as captain after taking over from Marcelo. Barcelona and AC Milan are only other clubs to have won the Super Cup five times.
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But the game between the Champions League winners, Madrid, and Europa League champions, Frankfurt, failed to match the spectacle of their previous meeting. Their only other competitive game was the 1960 European Cup final, when Alfredo Di Stfano scored three goals and Ferenc Pusks chipped in with four to give Madrid a 7-3 win and fifth consecutive European crown.
Frankfurt goal-scorer Erwin Stein and teammate Dieter Stinka were in Helsinki for the rematch 62 years later, but it was the 93-year-old Jos Santamaria the only remaining Madrid player from that final in Glasgow who celebrated another win. The three veterans embraced warmly when they met before kickoff.
Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti started with his established players, forcing new signings Antonio Rdiger and Aurelien Tchouameni to watch from the bench. Frankfurt was keen to make amends for a 6-1 rout at home to Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga opening game last Friday.
