Real Madrid won 2-0 in the UEFA Super Cup against Eintracht Frankfurt to add another piece of European silverware to their cabinet after claiming the Champions League final in May.
Carlo Ancelotti picked a veteran starting XI for the fixture in Helsinki, leaving young French midfielders Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni out of his line-up in favour of the battle-tested trio Luka Modric, Casemiro and Toni Kroos. He also kept new centre-back Antonio Rudiger on the bench.
The manager’s old guard were the catalysts in the victory: Alaba and Benzema scored, while Casemiro might have been the best player on the pitch. If it’s not broken, don’t try to fix it.
The Blancos now start their La Liga title defence and will eye another Champions League crown, having little reason to doubt that they can run it all back again.