Manchester City have won the UEFA Super Cup for the first time, expanding their tally to four trophies in the club’s most successful year. However, the English champions and Champions League winners only beat Europa League winners FC Sevilla on penalties 5: 4 in Piraeus. After 90 minutes it was 1: 1 (0: 1).
21-year-old Cole Palmer (63rd) equalized for City, Youssef En-Nesyri (25th) had given Sevilla the lead. In the penalty shoot-out, Sevilla’s last shooter, Nemanja Gudelj, showed nerves and hit the crossbar.
Despite the success, one thing became clear. The departure of Ilkay Gündogan and the long-term absence of playmaker Kevin De Bruyne are apparently not so easy for the high-flyers from the island to cope with.
City were represented for the first time in the 1973 UEFA Supercup, in which the winners of the two most important European cups duel. Sevilla, winners in 2006, lost the Supercup for the sixth time after 2007, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2020 (against Bayern Munich) – a record.
Manchester City can’t think of much against Sevilla
“We have to take this opportunity because who knows when we’ll be back,” said City star coach Pep Guardiola in advance. He was by no means expecting an easy victory, Sevilla have “great character and great stamina.” The big favorite in the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium was called Manchester – and at first only the sky blue actually played.
Seville goalkeeper Bono, with whom FC Bayern is said to have dealt as well as City reserve keeper Stefan Ortega, made strong saves against Nathan Ake (8th) and Jack Grealish (17th). The Andalusians hardly got forward, but the first attack worth mentioning was right away – also because Josko Gvardiol, who switched from RB Leipzig to the Skyblues for 90 million euros, was not perfect in his starting eleven in a header duel with En-Nesyri.
Sevilla, who didn’t stand a chance against Guardiola in the group stage of the Champions League last year (0:4, 1:3), then settled back into their own half and defended passionately. City couldn’t think of much, goalscorer Erling Haaland hardly got a useful pass.
After the change of sides, City naturally increased the pressure. Sevilla were about to get the second goal, but this time En-Nesyri failed to stand alone in front of city keeper Ederson. The English champions punished the negligence, Cole heading in from a buttery Rodri cross to equalise. Manchester pushed for the second goal.