For the first time in their history, Manchester City lift the UEFA Super Cup by defeating Sevilla on penalties.
Early on, Sevilla had to rely on Moroccan goalkeeper Bono to prevent them from trailing as the Moroccan made excellent saves to save Nathan Ake and Jack Grealish.
Despite City’s early dominance, it was the Europa League champions who broke the score when Youssef En-Nesyri’s strong head connected with Marcus Acuna’s inviting cross to direct the ball into the bottom corner.
Yes Kova! 🫶 pic.twitter.com/x74AJKKmPN
— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 16, 2023
En-Nesyri should have doubled the score early in the second half when Sevilla caught City off guard on the break. Lucas Ocampos’ low cross gave the striker a clear chance at goal, but Ederson stopped his attempt.
Just beyond the hour mark, Pep Guardiola’s team finally penetrated Sevilla’s defence and drew even when Rodri found Cole Palmer at the back post for a close-range goal.
Palmer tested Bono once more with a curling shot from the edge of the box after scoring a miraculous goal in the most recent Community Shield loss to Arsenal.
Cole Palmer scores against Sevilla‼️
The UEFA Super Cup is tied up#MCISEV #SuperCup
— Mike Oxlong Jr (@Mike_Oxlo) August 16, 2023
In the waning seconds, Aké had the best opportunity to win the match, but Bono once more glanced his header over the bar.
Erling Haaland and Lucas Ocampos successfully converted the first penalty kicks for their respective teams, and the game was decided on penalties.
Up until the final penalty, when Nemanja Gudelj missed, both clubs were faultless from 12 yards, giving City the victory in a European matchup once more.
Penalty shoot
Sevilla 3
Mancity 3#UEFASuperCup #SevillaFC #MCISEV #ManCity #SuperCup pic.twitter.com/C4kIY5WrZV— Name can be blank (@_BATstan) August 16, 2023
Team Lineup:
Man City XI: Ederson, Walker, Akanji, Gvardiol, Ake, Rodri, Kovacic, Foden, Palmer, Grealish, Haaland
Sevilla XI: Bono, Navas, Bade, Gudelj, Acuna, Jordan, Rakitic, Torres, Ocampos, Lamela, En-Nesyri
De Bruyne to miss 4 months due to Injury
Kevin De Bruyne has been a standout performer for Manchester City, but could miss up to four months of action and might need surgery for his hamstring injury, according to Pep Guardiola.
The 32-year-old was substituted during the first half of June’s victory against Inter Milan in the Champions League final and did not participate in any preseason action.
#Guardiola explains his discussion with Erling #Haaland at halftime and gives detail about #DeBruyne‘s injury. (read more https://t.co/Ee9jfvRc3k)#MCIBUR pic.twitter.com/KVbQwgNkVa
— offsidetrap (@offsidetrap_in) August 12, 2023
In the Community Shield loss to Arsenal, De Bruyne returned from that hamstring injury as a second-half replacement and led the team against Burnley in Friday’s Premier League debut. The playmaker from Belgium played just 23 minutes in the Turf Moor season opener before being substituted due to a hamstring issue.
Debut for Gvardiol
Gvardiol started the game on the left of the defense for City. Jack Grealish, Cole Palmer, Mateo Kovacic, Gvardiol, and the other players who started against Burnley last Friday are all back in the lineup.
Julian Alvarez, Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, and Rico Lewis all have to make room.
#Guardiola: “What a beautiful surname…”#Gvardiol transfer to #ManCity complete.#MUFC https://t.co/6ffekgLtDa
— offsidetrap (@offsidetrap_in) August 5, 2023
Both John Stones and Ruben Dias, who were absent from Burnley’s inaugural Premier League triumph last Friday, are listed on the substitutes bench.
What they said before the Game
Sevilla Coach Jose Luis Mendilibar told Diario AS, “It amuses me that there is talk of City Injuries. Just between goalkeeper and defence more than €500m have been spent,”
“I don’t think they complain about injuries. They may complain that there are many matches but they all say that’s why we charge so much, it seems that we have to lower our ears and say amen to everything.”
#ManCity will try to win #UEFA #SuperCup against #Sevilla. Check Preview of the game
Our Prediction #MCFC wins 2-0. What’s yours? #Pep talks about #DeBruyne before the game#mancitysevillafc https://t.co/5IkYcN2O4K
— offsidetrap (@offsidetrap_in) August 15, 2023
Pep Guardiola told Movistar+, “The seasons are continuous, there are no more holidays.”
“They make you go to Asia, to the United States, they make you play very strong matches, and people go down and will continue to to go down. The show must go on and if De Bruyne is not there, another will come. If Courtois is not there, they have already signed Kepa. If Militao is not there, there will be another.”
“On top of that they are adding more minutes onto the games, games of 110, 120 minutes. At the end of the season, we won’t have played 38 games, we will have played 43. Then FIFA is adding more games at the World Cup.”