Alaba and Benzema fire Real Madrid to Super Cup glory

Real Madrid claimed their first trophy of the season on Wednesday night, as David Alaba and Karim Benzema got their name on the scoresheet in a 2-0 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in the 2022 UEFA Super Cup.

Carlo Ancelotti fielded the same starting XI that defeated Liverpool in the Champions League final back in May, and the move paid off, as Los Blancos looked a class above their German counterparts in Helsinki.

Alaba's strike before the end of the first half seemed to settle any nerves Madrid had given Frankfurt had managed to stifle them up to that point.

However, Ancelotti's men raised their level after the restart, with Benzema's goal in the 65th minute ending whatever faint hopes the German side still had.

Frankfurt struggled to make much headway into the Real Madrid half during the early exchanges, but it was the German's who had the first real chance of the match.

Daichi Kamada was played in behind the Los Blancos defence, but Thibault Courtois proved up to the challenge, denying the low strike.

Madrid responded minutes later after a great run from Federico Valverde down the right. His cross found Benzema, who laid it off for an unmarked Vinicius, only for his effort to be cleared off the line by Tuta.

Madrid's breakthrough finally came in the 37th minute, as Alaba took advantage of some poor Frankfurt defending from a corner. Benzema's towering header looked destined to go out of play. However, Kevin Trapp came wandering off his line.

Casemiro remained alert and cushioned the ball into the path of Alaba, who made no mistake in firing into the empty goal.

The half ended with another Madrid chance, this time from Benzema. The Frenchman collected a Toni Kroos cross just inside the area, but he fired just wide of the mark.

Trapp was called into action in the 54th minute, with Vinicius the danger man this time. The Brazilian controlled a deflected cross and fired a left-footed effort on goal, with the German goalkeeper doing well to deny the strike.

Madrid continued to threaten, Casemiro firing a left-footed strike off the top of the bar, and it wasn't long until they doubled their advantage.

After combining for 111 goals and assists last seasons, Benzema and Vinicius combined for their first of the new season.

The Brazilian scampered down the left before cutting back and laying a ball into the path of Benzema, who fired past Trapp's body to send Madrid on their way.

From there the minutes ticked away with Frankfurt unable to muster any response, while both Aurelien Tchouameni and Antonio Rudiger came on in the 85th minute to make their competitive Real Madrid debuts in triumphant fashion.

2 - Real Madrid: Courtois; Carvajal (Rüdiger, m.85), Militao, Alaba, Mendy; Casemiro, Kroos (Tchouameni, m.85), Modric (Rodrygo, m.66); Fede Valverde (Camavinga, m.76), Vinícius (Ceballos, m.85) y Benzema.

0 - Eintracht: Trapp; Touré (Lucas Alario, m.70), Tuta, N'Dicka; Knauff, Rode (Gotze, m.58), Sow, Kamada; Lenz, Lindström (Kolo Muani, 58); y Borré.