David Alaba, Karim Benzema fire Real Madrid to UEFA Super Cup victory

HELSINKI: David Alaba and Karim Benzema shined as Real Madrid beat Frankfurt in the final of the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday.

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 great understanding. 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.

The goal Benzema needed to surpass former captain Raul on the club's all-time scoring lists came in the 65th minute, albeit he came close to making it two with a flustered half-volley that was just wide of the mark.

He combined with Vinicius once more; this time, the young attacker found Benzema breaking free just inside the box, and the veteran beat Trapp with a quick shot to put Frankfurt out of the game.

Ancelotti, who last week indicated it was conceivable for Real to contend for 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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