Real Madrid top Eintracht 2-0 to hoist UEFA Super Cup

Helsinki, Aug 10 (EFE).- Real Madrid beat Eintracht Frankfurt 2-0 here Wednesday to win the UEFA Super Cup for a fifth time, equaling AC Milan and archrivals Barcelona.

The same Blancos starting 11 that defeated Liverpool in June to secure a record-extending 14th Champions League title was never really challenged by an Eintracht squad who lacked the brashness that led to their triumph in the Europa League.

Coming off a 6-1 rout by Bayern Munich in their Bundesliga opener and without departing star Filip Kostic, the German club were cautious to a fault and Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who made nine saves against the Reds in June, was tested only once Wednesday in front of 40,000 spectators at Helsinki Olympic Stadium.

Ansgar Knauff’s takeaway in the 14th created a chance for Daichi Kamada, but the Belgium international was up to the task.

Three minutes later, Eintracht defender Tuta made a great goal-line clearance to turn away a strike by Vinicius Jr. that beat keeper Kevin Trapp.

The Eintracht keeper did well to deny Karim Benzema in the 37th minute, but conceded a soft goal to David Alaba seconds later on the ensuing corner.

Benzema fired just wide in the 41st and Trapp stopped a Casemiro effort to keep the deficit at 1-0 heading into the break.

Trapp thwarted Vini 10 minutes into the second half and Fede Valverde at the hour mark before Casemiro hit the cross-bar.

But Benzema – inevitably – settled the contest in the 65 minute with an assist from Vinicius to edge ahead of Raul into second place on the Real Madrid all-time scoring list with 324 goals.

The French striker now trails only Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored 450 times in Real Madrid colors. EFE rmm/dr