UEFA Super Cup Preview: Real Madrid 🆚 Eintracht Frankfurt🇪🇺

The Olympic Stadium in Helsinki is set to host the first European competition in the 2022/2023 season on Wednesday, 10th August, 2022. Real Madrid take on Eintracht Frankfurt in the latest edition of the UEFA Super Cup.

Recall that Real Madrid had defeated Liverpool by a lone goal in the last UEFA champions League final to claim their 14th Champions League title while Frankfurt defeated Scottish side, Rangers to pick up the Europa League trophy.

En route to the 2022 UCL final, the Carlos Ancelotti’s side had knocked out big teams such as PSG, a relentless Chelsea squad as well as defending EPL champions, Manchester City. On the other hand, Frankfurt got over teams such as West Ham United, Real Betis as well as top LaLiga side, Barcelona to get to the Europa League finals played against Rangers. This game however, after a tough 120 minutes was forced into penalties where Aaron Ramsey’s miss(saved by Kevin Trapped) saw Frankfurt emerge winners of the Europa League trophy, their first ever European trophy since the 1979/1980 season where they won the UEFA Cup. The game on Wednesday will be their inaugural appearance in the UEFA Super Cup.

In preparations for their LaLiga title defence, Real Madrid have taken part in three preseason games last month. The Los Blancos lost their first preseason friendly by a lone goal in a game with Spanish rivals, Barcelona while they we’re held to a two-all draw with Club America in their second game. However, Real emerged victorious over Juventus, winning with two unreplied goals.

Meanwhile, Oliver Glasner’s side have kick-started their 2022/2023 Bundesliga campaign with an embarrassing 6-1 loss to current Bundesliga champions, Bayern Munich right in the Deutsche Bank Park.

Team News

Real Madrid heads into the Super Cup without any injury worries. However, Reinier Jesus has been absent from training in preparations for a loan move away from the club.
Ancelotti will have a difficult time deciding whether to hand in a competitive debuts to Antonio Rudiger and Aurelian Tchouameni as they both seem to battle to become regular starters this season.
Rodrygo may still remain on the bench as Valverde has been given the go ahead to join Benzema and Vinicius Jnr in the final third.

For Frankfurt, Glasner has ruled out defender, Jerome Onguene out of the Super Cup over a thigh problem. Aurelia Buta is still recovering from knee injury.
After an initial domestic suspension, Hrvoje Smolcic returns to the Frankfurt squad. Meanwhile, Juventus’ interest in Filip Kostic has raised uncertainty on the chances of his stay at Frankfurt leaving Glasner thinking of a better replacement on the left flank.

Real Madrid possible starting lineup:
Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Alaba, Mendy; Kroos, Casemiro, Modric; Valverde, Benzema, Vinicius Jr

Eintracht Frankfurt possible starting lineup:
Trapp; Toure, Ndicka, Tuta; Knauff, Sow, Rode, Lenz; Gotze, Kamada; Borre