Frankfurt, where Nati player Djibril Sow played the whole game, appeared to have recovered quite well from the 6-1 home defeat against Bayern Munich at the start of the Bundesliga. They kept up well until David Alaba gave Real the lead after 37 minutes after a corner and a short header back pass. They could have taken the lead after just under a quarter of an hour. But Japan’s Daichi Kamada saw his shot saved from a favorable position by goalie Thibaut Courtois.
Even after the break, the eleventh team from the last Bundesliga season were on a par with the Spanish champions for most of the time. But the goal was scored again by a Real player, this time French striker Karim Benzema from the edge of the box. Coach Carlo Ancelotti’s team played calmly and patiently. There was no mistaking the security and self-confidence that the great successes of the past season gave the Madrilenians. (SDA)