Real Madrid Benzema Inspires Real Madrid To Fifth UEFA Super Cup Win

Karim Benzema scored Real Madrid’s 324th goal as they defeated Eintracht Frankfurt to win the Uefa Super Cup in Helsinki, continuing his quest for the Ballon d’Or.

David Alaba scored the opening goal for Carlo Ancelotti’s team, which defeated Liverpool to win the Champions League in May. Frankfurt goalkeeper Kevin Trapp was left stranded after Casemiro’s header back across goal.

After the break, Benzema extended the advantage for the Spanish powerhouses with a first-time finish from Vinicius Jr.’s cross, moving ahead of Raul and only Cristiano Ronaldo, who has 450 goals, for second place on Real’s all-time goalscoring record.

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Real Madrid played with the swagger that comes with being crowned European champions for the 14th time and now adding a fifth Super Cup to their trophy cabinet.

Ancelotti started with the same starting XI that played in the Champions League final.

Frankfurt, meanwhile, qualified for the top-tier competition on the continent with their victory over Rangers in the Europa League penalty shootout.

This match, their first against Real Madrid since suffering a 7-3 loss in the 1960 European Cup final, will serve as a barometer for what is to come for the Bundesliga team.

The Germans required Brazilian defender Tuta to make an outstanding goalline block to stop Vinicius after a deft Real move at the opposite end, but Japan striker Kamada was unable to beat Thibaut Courtois to give the Germans the lead.

In the attacking phase, Vinicius and Benzema have developed an almost telepathic rapport. They combined on the left to release the Brazilian, who then moved the ball to his right foot and compelled Trapp to make a long-range fingertip save.

Real’s breakthrough came from the next corner in the 37th minute, when Alaba was given the easiest of close-range finishes.

Although France’s Benzema has never won the Ballon d’Or, his performance in helping Real win the Champions League and La Liga crown suggests that may soon change.

With a flustered half volley that went just off target, the 34-year-old came close to making it two.

Benzema did, however, score in the 65th minute to surpass Raul in the club’s all-time scoring rankings.

He combined with Vinicius once more, the young attacker finding Benzema this time as the veteran was edging away just inside the box, and the latter beat Trapp with a quick shot to put Frankfurt out of the match.

Ancelotti, who this week believed it was conceivable for Real to win all six competitions they are in this season, was able to give debuts to new acquisitions Antonio Rudiger and Aurelien Tchouameni after Casemiro had earlier curled against the bar from a distance.


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