Manchester City has lifted its first ever Super Cup trophy.
Manchester City drew 1-1 with Sevilla in the European Football Association (UEFA) Super Cup 2023 at the Yorgos Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus, Greece, at 4 a.m. ET on Sunday. They went on to win 5-4 on penalties to claim the title.
메이저놀이터 City entered the tournament as UEFA Champions League (UCL) winners from the 2022-23 season, while Sevilla were UEFA Europa League (UEL) champions. The captains of each team took to the field with their respective trophies.
Photo via UEFA social media
Photo via UEFA social media
[Lineups]
Man City social media
Sevilla social media
City lined up in a 3-2-4-1 formation. Elling Holland started up front with Jack Grealish, Matteo Kovacic, Phil Foden and Cole Palmer in the second line. Rodriguez and Manuel Akanji held down the middle, while Yoshko Gvardiol, Nathan Ake, and Kyle Walker formed the back three. Ederson wore the goalkeeping gloves.
Sevilla also lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Youssef Enneciri was up top, flanked by Erik Lamela, Oliver Torres, and Lucas Ocampos. Ivan Rakitic and Joan Jordaan formed the back three, with Marcos Acuña, Nemanja Gudel, Loic Bardet, and Jesus Navas in the defense. Yacine Bunu was in goal.
[Der Bruyne was absent].
The pre-match press conference was held before the game. And then came the shocking news from City manager Pep Guardiola. “Der Bruyne has a serious injury. We have to decide if he needs an operation or not, and he won’t be back for a few months. It will be three or four months,” he said.
“We could have asked him not to play (against Burnley), but this injury can happen again later. I spoke to the doctor, the physiotherapist and De Bruyne before making the decision. He said he was fine. Der Bruyne’s injury is a blow and a big loss for us,” he added.
Guardiola added: “Der Bruyne has special qualities that (without him) we could lose a game or two. But to be out for a long time is really difficult. You have to look ahead, but at the same time, there are alternatives. Of course, his skills are irreplaceable and we have to fill them with other skills. We have other talented players who can step in and give us a chance. If there are injuries, there are opportunities for other players, and I’m sure they will take them.”
Rodri, who represented the squad at the press conference, added: “Der Bruyne is one of the most important players in the club. We will miss him a lot and we will try to help him. Nobody wants injuries. I saw him a few days ago and it was positive. He is experienced and knows he needs to recover. That’s the most important part. We will miss him, but we have a complete squad to play (without him) for the next few months.”
There’s a good chance we won’t see him this year. Multiple outlets have predicted that he will not play in 2023. “Man City’s De Bruyne could miss the rest of the year with injury,” The Guardian said, “De Bruyne’s injury is serious and will keep him out for months,” ESPN said, “De Bruyne’s four-month absence is a major setback for City,” and Nieuwsblad said, “According to several experts, De Bruyne will need surgery. He will be out of action until the end of 2023.”
Der Bruyne tore his hamstring in the UCL final against Inter Milan in June. The bad news came in the 36th minute. Der Bruyne, who had been on the ground for the first 30 minutes, complained of discomfort after sprinting down the right flank and crossing. He immediately signaled for the bench and was replaced by Phil Foden. The disappointment on Der Bruyne’s face was palpable.
The 2023-24 season kicked off with a bang. After coming on as a substitute in the FA Community Shield against Arsenal, Der Bruyne started against Burnley. Then came the disappointment. In the 21st minute, Der Bruyne looked like he was in pain. Medical staff were called in to assess the situation, and he was soon stretchered off the field, confirming his long-term absence ahead of the UEFA Super Cup against Sevilla.
[Pitch conditions].
Photo: UEFA Social Media
Air temperature: 28 degrees
Humidity: 47
Wind speed: 5 km/h
[First half] Enesiri bombs in from the top of the box…Sevilla take a 1-0 lead over Man City
Sevilla opened the scoring. In the second minute of the first half, Sevilla pressed forward and Lamela drove in and fired a right-footed shot in front of the penalty box, but it was deflected wide of the goal. Sevilla dominated the opening minutes of the second half.
City fought back. In the seventh minute, Palmer picked up the ball and drove into the center of the penalty box from the right flank, but his shot was deflected by the defense, and the keeper was able to get a hand on it. Then, in the eighth minute of the first half, Palmer sent in a sharp cross that was met by Ake’s header from a no-mark chance. Bunu stretched out his hand to palm away the rebound.
City swallowed their disappointment. In the 11th minute, Bunu headed away a cross. Gbadiol followed up with a shot from outside the penalty box, but it was mis-hit and soared over the bar. Then, in the 17th minute, Grigorish cut inside the penalty box after a pass from Kovacic and curled a shot that was saved by Bunu.
In the 22nd minute of the first half, the cooling off period was underway.
Sevilla took the lead. In the 25th minute, Sevilla pushed forward and Akunya sent in a sharp cross from the left flank. Enesiri rose high between Ake and Gvardiol and rattled the net with a header.
Sevilla missed out on a second goal. In the 31st minute, Torres cut back from the right flank and Lamela raced in to shoot from an open position inside the penalty box. But it was wide of the far post.
City’s chances went begging. In the 38th minute, Rodriguez’s header from a corner hit Rakitic and sailed over the bar. City continued to dominate possession, but were unable to break through Sevilla’s tight defense. In the end, the game remained scoreless, with Sevilla holding a 1-0 lead.
[Second half] Palmer scores a fantastic header!…Man City vs Sevilla, 1-1 at the end of the first half → penalty shootout
Both teams started the second half unchanged. Sevilla’s best chance went begging. In the fifth minute of the second half, Sevilla tried a counterattack and Ocampos sprinted down the left flank before delivering an exquisite pass to the other side. Ennesiiri took advantage of the no-mark opportunity to get between the goalkeeper’s legs, but was caught by a yard. Seven minutes into the second half, Enneciri’s shot from inside the penalty box after receiving a penetrating pass also sailed wide of the post.
The chances kept coming for Sevilla. In the ninth minute, they were awarded a free kick just outside the penalty box and Jordaan’s kick was saved by Ederson. Then, in the 12th minute, Ocampos’ side-winding kick inside the penalty box was cleared off the line.
City crawled back into the game. In the 18th minute, Rodriguez delivered an exquisite cross from just outside the penalty area that Palmer rushed to meet with a header. The ball was sucked into the opposite goal.
Sevilla hit the ground running. In the 20th minute, Ennesiri had a great chance inside the penalty box after a through ball from Ocampos, but his subsequent ground ball was blocked, this time by the quickly-arriving Ederson.
City did not stand still. In the 25th minute, Palmer made a good run forward before folding and curling a shot from the edge of the box, but Bunu was there to punch it away. Sevilla then brought on Juanlu Sanchez for Torres.
In the 26th minute of the second half, the second cooling off period took place.
City took advantage. In the 33rd minute, Holland’s shot on goal was blocked by the defense, and then Walker’s deflected cross found the hands of Bunu. In the 35th minute, Grealish’s shot from outside the penalty box was straight at the keeper.
Sevilla made a substitution. In the 38th minute, they brought off Navas, who was feeling unwell, and brought on Gonzalo Montiel. City also pulled Palmer for the equalizer in the 40th minute and brought on Julian Alvarez.
Four minutes of second-half stoppage time were awarded. City missed a chance to close it out. In the first minute of second-half stoppage time, Foden sent in a free kick that Ake rushed onto and headed home. Bunu got a hand to it and tipped it over the crossbar. In the second minute of stoppage time, Walker’s surprise mid-range effort went just over the top of the post.
Sevilla made a substitution for the penalty shootout. In the third minute of second-half stoppage time, Enesiri and Lamela were sent off, followed by Rafa Mir and Suso. No further goals were scored and the game headed to penalties.
[Penalty shootout] It’s a five-way tie…Man City wins 5-4!
City started the game on the front foot. City’s first kicker was Holland, who finished in the bottom right corner. Sevilla’s first kicker was Ocampos, who also put it in the bottom right corner. City’s second kicker was Alvarez, who hit the top right corner. Sevilla’s second kicker was Mir, who also kicked to the top right, rattling the net. City’s third kicker was Kovacic, who placed it neatly into the bottom left corner. Sevilla’s third kicker was Rakitic, who drilled it down the left-hand side.
City’s fourth kicker was Grealish, who drove boldly down the middle. Sevilla’s fourth kicker was Montiel, who kicked to the right and split the goal. City’s fifth kicker is Walker, who kicks to the bottom left and hits the keeper’s hand. Sevilla’s fifth kicker was Goodell, whose hard shot hit the crossbar.
Photo: Man City Social Media
Photo via Man City Social Media