Tonight sees Real Madrid open the competitive campaign just as they finished last season: by contesting a final. The win over Liverpool in Paris that secured la Decimocuarta has handed our team the chance to do battle with Eintracht de Frankfurt for the UEFA Super Cup tonight. Helsinki’s Olympic Stadium will witness Carlo Ancelotti’s men bid to lift the first of the six pieces of silverware that the Whites are aiming to capture this term (9pm CET).
Following over a month of demanding pre-season work and three outings in the USA, Ancelotti’s troops head to Finland looking to land another trophy. Victory in tonight’s match would represent a fifth UEFA Super Cup triumph in our club’s history.
“We know all about Eintracht and will have to fight, battle and play well if we’re to beat them,” explained Ancelotti in his pre-match press conference. The Italian has named a full squad for the encounter. Luka Modrić and Karim Benzema took their places alongside the coach in the press room and the duo highlighted the importance of beginning the campaign with a trophy triumph. “We’re really excited and want to win it,” commented the Croatian, whilst the captain insisted, “We'll be giving our all”.
Unbeaten European campaign last time round: Madrid will be up against the defending European League champions, who overcame Rangers in the final after enjoying a sensational run in the tournament. Eintracht went unbeaten in the competition (W7, D6) and head into tonight’s contest on the back of a 6-1 home defeat at the hands of Bayern Munich.
Only previous meeting: The only time the two sides have met was also in a final, the 1960 European Cup showpiece, which is widely considered to be “the best final in the history of the sport.” Real Madrid ran out 7-3 winners at Glasgow’s Hampden Park thanks to four goals from Puskas and an Alfredo Di Stéfano hat-trick.
About the lineups: It has already been reported that Carlo Ancelotti will not be starting the likes of Antonio Rudiger and Aurelien Tchouameni who joined the club this summer as he wants the players who won the tournament to contend the final. As for the German side, they are set to travel without Filip Kostic who is very close to a move to Italian side Juventus.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid's starting XI has been confirmed ahead of the Super Cup final.
Real Madrid starting line-up:
1. Courtois
2. Carvajal
3. E. Militão
4. Alaba
8. Kroos
9. Benzema
10. Modrić
14. Casemiro
15. Valverde
20. Vini Jr.
23. F. Mendy.
Substitutes:
13. Lunin
5. Vallejo
6. Nacho
7. Hazard
11. Asensio
17. Lucas V.
18. Tchouameni
19. D. Ceballos
21. Rodrygo
22. Rüdiger
24. Mariano
25. Camavinga.
Comentarios