As the Europa League champion, Eintracht Frankfurt travels to the UEFA Supercup – and learns in 90 minutes what to expect in the Champions League. Real Madrid used two mistakes made by the Bundesliga team in the usual consistent way. But the experience alone is invaluable for the SBU.
The European Cup heroes from Eintracht Frankfurt have missed the final crowning of their wondrous fairy tale. The courageous champion of the Europa League lost 0: 2 (0: 1) to the ripped off royal team from Real Madrid in the European Supercup. Only initially did the Hessians sniff the next international coup after the fuss about star player Filip Kosti?.
Ex-Munich David Alaba (37th) and Karim Benzema (65th) crowned the winner of the Champions League in Helsinki as the triumphant. With their fifth success in the Supercup, the Madrilenians rose to become record champions around the eternal Toni Kroos and Antonio Rüdiger, who came on as a late substitute. 84 days after the magical night in Seville, Frankfurt missed the third German success due to the first international defeat in 13 games. Only Bayern Munich won the Supercup twice in the Bundesliga (2013, 2020).
Despite the shock of Kostic’s departure, around 10,000 Eintracht supporters turned the Finnish capital into a party zone in the afternoon. Almost traditionally, some dared to go on a boat tour, while others, together with President Peter Fischer, created goosebumps at the fan festival in Kaisaniemi Park. In terms of mood, the SGE also clearly had the upper hand in the Olympic Stadium.
“We want to win this game and not just give up a sparring partner,” emphasized Frankfurt coach Oliver Glasner before the duel. In front of 35,000 spectators in Christopher Lenz he sent a much more defensive solution than Kostic onto the lawn, and Rio hero Mario Götze had to give way for Daichi Kamada. Unlike the 1: 6 debacle against Bayern at the start of the Bundesliga, the Hessians got immediate access to the duels.
Real was allowed to combine pass machine Kroos and defensive chief Alaba undisturbed up to the middle line, then the pressing should snap – that worked well at first. And occasionally there were even offensive pinpricks after winning the ball, Kamada (14th) failed after a dream pass from Rafael Borre in front of Thibaut Courtois. In return, Tuta (16th) had to save Vinicius Junior for the defeated Kevin Trapp on the line.
Otherwise, the royals could not think of much against the low-lying Glasner team, so they tried to lure the opponent more. This passivity was almost punished, but Courtois parried the low shot from Ansgar Knauff (24th) from a tight angle. Out of nowhere, however, Real struck ice cold, and Alaba converted a corner after Casemiro returned a header. Benzema (41st) could have increased freestanding.
The Bundesliga side initially stayed true to their tactics after the break, but Real now found better solutions. Trapp had to show his class against Vinicius (55th) with a foot defense. Glasner brought Götze and Randal Kolo Muani – but initially it changed little. The switching of the SGE now only seemed promising in the approach, it was mostly the last pass that was lacking.
Instead, Madrid combined more and more pleasingly in the expanding rooms, Casemiro (61st) hit the crossbar from 16 meters. Then Trapp, who had been strong until then, blundered in a central finish from Benzema, who became the second-best scorer in Los Blancos’ history with his 324th goal for Real – only Cristiano Ronaldo has scored more goals.
