Real Madrid have clinched a record-breaking fifth UEFA Super Cup together following a 2-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt in Helsinki. It was Los Blancos’ first win in competition against a German side.
Real Madrid clinched the title thanks to goals from David Alaba thanks to a commanding header and a sloppy goalkeeping stance from Kevin Trapp that allowed Benzema to squeeze and squirm into a game-changing goal.
The final result gives Carlo Ancelotti his fourth title since returning to the club last summer and his eighth overall in both periods in the Spanish capital. That performance against Oliver Glasner’s Eintracht Frankfurt was arguably one of his best squad management performances to date, without ever having to up the intensity to match that of the big event.
Here are the top three stats to understand the tie:
Never before has a team repeated the same line-up as the European final in a single-game Super Cup match
Carlo Ancelotti gambled on luck by choosing the same eleven he had won the Champions League with in Paris. For weeks in advance he knew he would stick with the same players that took him to Helsinki and he did just that, repeating the same team in the Supercup final.
With two new signings in Aurelién Tchouaméni and Antonio Rüdiger, Ancelotti instead opted for the same side with David Alaba and Éder Militão in defense and Casemiro in midfield.
It was an intriguing choice as Carlo Ancelotti’s management was all about tactical preferences. Along the way he gave a great vote of confidence to players like Ferland Mendy, who lived up to his task with a strong performance.
Fringe players and newcomers got their chance late, with players like Dani Ceballos, so often cited as the team’s seventh-choice midfielder and portrayed by many as a frustrated talent, getting a chance to shine on the biggest stage.
It was obvious that this game was a continuation of the 2021/22 season for Ancelotti, but also a preparation for 2022/23. He wanted to give his players a chance to prove themselves again and they did just that, securing the result and allowing Ancelotti to make those rotations late.
324 – Karim Benzema overtakes Raúl as Real Madrid’s second-highest goalscorer of all time
Benzema went on to become the club’s second-highest goalscorer of all time, converting the team’s second goal to overtake Raúl’s tally of 323 for the club.
Perhaps a lucky goal reflected the confidence that has grown in his game over the past few years and it reflected his status within the squad. That’s why so many madridistas would have been delighted to see him officially win the Super Cup as club captain for the first time in Helsinki.
Only Cristiano Ronaldo, the man who benefited from Benzema’s 47 assists, has scored more goals for the club. With a 127-goal lead, Benzema seems unlikely to catch up with the Portuguese, but this was a fitting opportunity for Benzema to become official runners-up. It was topped by the fact that Benzema won his first trophy as the club’s official captain, having represented Marcelo last season.
At the same time, however, this game also showed that there is a future beyond Benzema’s brilliance. If Real Madrid fans were worried about attacking prowess, this game will have soothed those nerves. Seven out of 10 shots were on goal. Benzema wasn’t the only one to get involved, either.
Vinícius managed three tries, Fede Valverde another two and even Casemiro had two shots. Easing that pressure on the Frenchman could be crucial this season. As he celebrates his 35th birthday, Benzema cannot be expected to take the majority of goal-scoring responsibility like last season.
The wealth of attacking talent seen by the likes of Marco Asensio and Eden Hazard, both fantastic goalscorers in their prime, remains in awe as they stayed on the substitutes’ bench when Rodrygo Goes received the nod as the only attacking reinforcement.
6 – Casemiro completed the most tackles of any player
It was a time of pressure for the Brazilian, with more media pressure than perhaps ever since he established himself in the first-team under Zinedine Zidane in 2016.
The outstanding form of new signing Tchaouméni and youngster Eduardo Camavinga in pre-season ensured they were hotly debated as potential options for Ancelotti this season. Maybe even time to look to the future and give Casemiro more rest? But the number 14 showed exactly why it is too early to have such conversations.
Not only did he record the most tackles, but he also recorded 10 recoveries, leading the match. Casemiro did the hard work in Helsinki and while Tchouaméni and Camavinga excite the potential, he stressed the importance of his experience. His vision and presence on the big stage are second to none, just as Toni Kroos and Luka Modrić seemed to be treating this game like a pre-season warm-up.
The Brazilian considered the game brilliantly, preventing attacks from developing and providing a protective boundary in front of the back line that Eintracht just couldn’t break through. That was crucial in those crucial moments when the Germans put the pressure on and Casemiro was able to maintain his focus and fitness.
In attack too, Casemiro provided the assist for David Alaba’s opening goal with an intelligent header that sliced inwards from the far post. It was a good overall performance that demonstrated not only talent but also leadership from Casemiro.