KARIM BENZEMA overtook the legendary Raul to become Real Madrid’s second all-time top scorer as Los Blancos eased to UEFA Super Cup glory over Eintracht Frankfurt.
The 34-year-old started the 2022-23 season how he finished the last campaign – by sticking the ball in the back of the net.
Benzema’s tame strike on the edge of the area after 65 minutes, which was somehow not kept out by Frankfurt keeper Kevin Trapp, sealed victory for Real Madrid in Helsinki.
It was the Frenchman’s 324th for the club, putting him one ahead of Raul in the all time standings.
But he’s still 126 goals behind the incredible 450 strikes Cristiano Ronaldo managed for the Spaniards.
And at 34 it would take some doing for Benzema to overhaul his old buddy CR7 in Real’s goal standings.
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Carlo Ancelotti’s side bossed the entire clash with their German opposition in Helsinki – but it took until the 37th minute to break the deadlock.
It came when Frankfurt failed to deal with a corner, the ball eventually dropping out of the air to Casemiro who nodded across goal, leaving David Alaba with the simplest of tasks to poke home.
Vinicius Jr was a livewire throughout, and the 22-year-old should have scored the opener on 17 minutes.
The ball was teed up for him by Benzema and his effort from 12 yards beat Trapp, but not the outstretched leg of Tuta who cleared off the line.
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Benzema though made no such mistake when Brazilian star Vinicius Jr set him up for the second with 25 minutes left to play.
The Champions League final match winner picked up the ball on the left, cut inside and fed it into the path of Benzema.
From there Benzema did the rest, his first time effort finding its way past Trapp and into the back of the net.
The Frankfurt keeper will feel he should have done better – but they all count the same for Benzema.
He wheeled away in celebration after overtaking Raul’s goal record, which will only add to his case for Ballon d’Or glory later this year.
Ancelotti and Co saw out the game from there in typically professional style.
And in doing so the Italian became the first manager in history to win the UEFA Super Cup FOUR times.
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Real’s victory in Helsinki’s Olympic Stadium also drew them level with Barcelona and AC Milan for the most UEFA Super League triumphs.
All three teams have won the match – held between the winners of the Champions League and Europa League – five times.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
