Karim Benzema is looking to add another title to his extensive track record with the white jersey. Photo: AP Photo / Kirsty Wigglesworth.
It is time for the truth. The real Madrid begins his official season in search of his first title, the European Super Cup, in which he made his debut as favorite in the Helsinki duel against EintrachtFrankfurt. The game starts at 16:00 (Argentine time) and is broadcast by ESPN.
The Juventus team, four times winner of the tournament, does not have fond memories of the last European Super Cup, since losing 4-2 in 2018 to Atlético de Madrid in the Estonian capital, Tallinn. Now the new opportunity is back on the shores of the Baltic, but in another country and with skyrocketing confidence after its grand finale last season.
In the friendlies of the US pre-season tour, Real Madrid has gone from less to more: lost the Clásico in Las Vegas against FC Barcelona (1-0), tied Mexico America (2-2) in San Francisco and showed his best face by winning over Juve (2-0) in Pasadena.
The preparation is over and the moment of truth arrives, in a week which, in addition to the European Super Cup, means a few days later the start of the season of the Spanish La Ligawith the visit this Sunday 14 to the newly promoted Almeria.
“We will fight to win all competitions this season. Winning all six is a much more complicated challenge. What is possible is to fight them, to try, yes we will, but I don’t know how to win them because it is very complicated “, said the coach. Carlo Ancelotti to reporters this Tuesday in Helsinki.
This title allows Real Madrid to play the European Super Cup, as well as winning the Europa League was what motivated the presence of Eintracht Frankfurt in the Finnish capital.
Rafael Santos Borré, protagonist of the German team, which has been strengthened with the arrival of the Argentine Lucas Alario. Photo: AP Photo / Manu Fernandez.
Eintracht was also strengthened for the new course, notably incorporating Mario Götze and the Argentine Lucas Alario.
“You have to enjoy this moment and what was done last season, what the team achieved as a group last year. Now we have the wonderful privilege of playing this match,” the Colombian forward said at a press conference on Tuesday. Rafael Santos Borrethe hero of his team in the final of Europa League.
Eintracht arrives at the European Super Cup with a more competitive shot than Real Madrid but with doubts about the current situation. He played two official matches, with very unequal feelings: he won 4-0 against modest Magdeburg in the first round of the German Cup but was overwhelmed 6-1 at home by Bayern Munich, last Friday at the start of the Bundesliga.
The only precedent of an official duel between Real Madrid and Eintracht Frankfurt was given 62 years agoin the final of the Champions League – current Champions League – in 1960 and it turned out to be a memorable match: the Spanish team beat 7-3 with three goals from Alfredo Di Stéfano and four from Ferenc Puskas, thus winning the fifth title of European champion.
Should Real Madrid be proclaimed champion again on Wednesday, it would get his fifth title in the European Super Cup after those of 2002, 2014, 2016 and 2017. He would thus reach the top of the list of winners of FC Barcelona and Milan, who made five each.
Eintracht Frankfurt, meanwhile, is a rookie in this competition. So far, the only German club to have lifted this trophy has been Bayern Munich, who have done so twice (2013, 2020).
Today’s game also involves the first official in UEFA competitions of a new technological tool in support of referees decisions, the so-called semi-automatic offside.
Through a camera system capable of following twenty-nine different points of the body per player, the system will allow VAR teams to quickly detect offside situations.
This season, the system was also announced for the Champions League group stage. FIFA has decided for its part to implement it also for the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
possible formations
True Madrid: Thibaut Courtois; Dani Carvajal, Eder Miltiao, David Alaba, Ferland Mendy; Luka Modric, Casemiro, Toni Kroos; Federico Valverde, Karim Benzema and Vinícius Junior.
EintrachtFrankfurt: Kevin Trapp; Almamy Toure, Tuta, Evan N’Dicka; Ansgar Knauff, Sebastian Rode, Djibril Sow, Filip Kostić; Jesper Lindstrom, Mario Gotze; Rafael Santos Borre.
Source: Clarin
