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Real Madrid ran out comfortable winners over Eintracht Frankfurt in the 2022 UEFA Super Cup, with goals from David Alaba and Karim Benzema proving to the difference between the sides.
After a tentative start from both sides, it was Eintracht Frankfurt who would have the first real chance of the game. Said chance would fall to Daichi Kamada on the left of the penalty area following some good play down the right flank. After controlling the ball, Kamada’s effort on goal was relatively tame and well saved by Thibaut Courtois.
This chance for Frankfurt seemed to wake Real Madrid up. They would create the next chance after some wonderful interplay between Federico Valverde and Karim Benzema around the penalty area. The latter would then slide the ball through to Vinicius Junior who curled the ball past Kevin Trapp but not Tuta, who got back onto the line to miraculously clear the danger.
10 minutes later Vinicius was denied the opener once again, the time by Trapp in goal. The wide player’s curling effort from the edge of the box was tipped just wide of the post by the German goalkeeper.
From the resulting corner, Los Blancos would make it 1-0.
Benzema won the first header from the set piece, knocking it to the near post where Casemiro was on hand to head it back across goal and into the path of David Alaba. The former Bayern man was then able to comfortably tap the ball into the net.
It was so nearly 2-0 before half-time, as Benzema missed a glorious chance to double his sides lead. After controlling a fizzing pass from Toni Kroos on the edge of the penalty area, the UEFA Champions League player of the season drilled his subsequent shot wide of the left post.
As expected, Real Madrid controlled the start of the first half as Luka Modric and co. pulled the strings in midfield. Vinicius was once again denied a goal he really, really deserved in the 55th minute by Trapp, who shifted his weight quickly to block his deflected strike from around the penalty spot.
Casemiro would come closest next on the hour mark, cannoning the ball off of the crossbar from 25-yards out.
The Champions League winners finally got their second goal five minutes later through Benzema (obviously). After some great play on the left flank from Vinicius (obviously), the Brazilian was able to drill the ball into path of Benzema (obviously) who then side-footed the ball past Trapp and into the next (obviously).
Los Blancos were very comfortable thereafter, seeing out the game to win their fifth UEFA Super Cup.
Real Madrid (4-3-3)
GK – Thibaut Courtois – 6/10 – Made a few decent saves in the first half.
RB – Dani Carvajal – 6/10 – Tidy and worked hard up and down his flank.
CB – Eder Militao – 6/10 – He didn’t have too much to do defensively but was good on the ball.
CB – David Alaba – 7/10 – Striker’s instincts saw him open the scoring with a four yard tap-in.
LB – Ferland Mendy – 4/10 – The shakiest of Los Blancos’ starters.
CM – Luka Modric – 7/10 – Just on a completely different level than the Frankfurt midfield. Controlled the second half.
CM – Casemiro – 7/10 – Nabbed an assist for Alaba’s goal in the first half, and hit the crossbar in the second half.
CM – Toni Kroos – 8/10 – Looked really sharp on and off the ball. An all time great midfielder for sure.
RW – Federico Valverde – 7/10 – Tireless on the right flank. Really suits playing out there.
ST – Karim Benzema – 7/10 – Missed a good chance to double Real Madrid’s lead in the first half and then did double his side’s lead in the second. He’s now the second highest goalscorer in the club’s history. Not sure if you’ve heard, but he’s pretty bloody good this lad.
LW – Vinicius Junior – 9/10 – The real live wire in Real Madrid’s attack. Put simply, Frankfurt didn’t have a clue how to stop him.
SUB – Rodrygo – N/A.
SUB – Eduardo Camavinga – N/A.
SUB – Dani Ceballos – N/A.
SUB – Antonio Rudiger – N/A.
SUB – Aurelien Tchouameni – N/A.
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