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Manchester City vs Sevilla | UEFA SUPER CUP
Manchester City’s bid for a clean sweep of continental and world club titles remains alive after Nemanja Gudelj missed a fifth penalty in the shootout, giving Pep Guardiola’s side a 5-4 victory.
The treble champions add the Uefa Super Cup to their Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League titles. If they win the Club World Cup in December, they will win five of a possible six trophies in a year. Unfortunately, the Champs failed to win the Community Shield eluding them due to a penalty shootout loss to Arsenal.
After Cole Palmer’s 63rd-minute header ultimately pulled back Sevilla, whose lead came from Youssef En-Nesyri, City players Erling Haaland, Julian lvarez, Mateo Kovacic, Jack Grealish, and Kyle Walker returned a perfect score in the penalties.
Guardiola suggested that this could be the 21-year-old’s final appearance for City. “In my opinion, he wanted to leave, but now I’m not sure,” Guardiola remarked. “I don’t think it’ll be a loan; he’ll either stay or we’ll sell.” He demonstrated character by playing well and scoring a wonderful goal.”
Manchester City | UEFA SUPER CUP against SEVILLA
Rodri yelled at Haaland to leave it after he curled a cross across from the left for Palmer’s header.
“Yeah, I said my name, he ducked, and I was just there to finish it,” he explained.
The temperature was 27 degrees Celsius on a hot night in the port city of Piraeus, where Palmer, aided by Riyad Mahrez’s summer departure, operated down the right and gave City’s first salvo by dipping infield and challenging Yassine “Bono” Bounou, who collected.
Palmer then set up Nathan Aké, whose cross dropped where the defender could head on target via the floor, Sevilla’s goalie once again doing enough.
Guardiola’s men, who love to dominate and squash opponents, were out of breath early on. In place of the long-term injured Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden slid into pockets, knitting the play. Foden was part of a sequence that ended with Walker slashing the ball towards Grealish. The wide man did not confront Bono, but the latter fisted away, and Josko Gvardiol sprayed a shot over on his complete debut.
Grealish’s radar was set significantly better seconds later: his effort needed the busy Bono to tip out for a corner, which Sevilla repelled.
The Spanish side were trapped in a form of Groundhog Day common to many of City’s opponents: they knew exactly what flowing moves would be fashioned in front of them but couldn’t do anything to break the spell.
What they needed was a City blunder, such as when Kovacic recklessly relinquished control near Sevilla, much to Guardiola’s dismay. The Croatian then missed a raking ball out, which led to the opener. Marcos Acua collected the ball on the left, chipped it in, and En-Nesyri beat Aké and Gvardiol to head home off Ederson’s right post.
Man City are the CHAMPIONS!!!
Following a Foden miscue and a crazy Gvardiol delivery, Sevilla took command. Ivan Rakitic lofted a 40-yard pass to Lucas Ocampos, the ball was moved to the right, and Liver Torres fed Érik Lamela, who blazed wide.
The Rodri ball that forced Loc Badé to tug the muted Haaland over, resulting in a booking for the French defender and a free-kick 25 yards away, was better from last season’s Champions League winners. Foden hammered this into the wall – specifically, Joan Jordán’s face – and Sevilla led at halftime.
Following a Foden miscue and a crazy Gvardiol delivery, Sevilla took command. Ivan Rakitic lofted a 40-yard pass to Lucas Ocampos, the ball was moved to the right, and Liver Torres fed Érik Lamela, who blazed wide.
The Rodri ball that forced Loc Badé to tug the muted Haaland over, resulting in a booking for the French defender and a free-kick 25 yards away, was better from last season’s Champions League winners. Foden hammered this into the wall – specifically, Joan Jordán’s face – and Sevilla led at halftime.
How Manchester City played their first UEFA Super Cup Match
The city was as peaceful as it could be. A Rakitic free-kick into the box was speared at En-Nesyri and co. and handled with, and Palmer moved upfield to tap to Kovacic, but the cross was ineffectual due to their reliance on the counter.
Walker missed a tackle on Ocampos, so the winger glided down the left and rolled over a precise ball for En-Nesyri, whose shot struck Ederson’s body and allowed City to escape. Guardiola was clenching his teeth, and Jordán blasted a free kick at Ederson. The Brazilian goalkeeper held it, but this time it came from the Sevilla left.
City had to fight their way back into a game that, according to conventional thought, they should have dominated. Ilkay Gündogan (currently at Barcelona), De Bruyne, and Bernardo Silva (who is unwell) were all missing.
Each of these three players has the ability to define a game. When Guardiola looked at his bench, there was no one of their caliber.
Foden has the ability to turn games around. However, he was primarily in the background due to City’s aversion to controlled possession.
They do have spirit, as evidenced by Palmer’s equalizer, a header that gave Bono no chance.
After that, Kovacic, Walker, Grealish, and Foden all put Sevilla under pressure. However, those in red peppered City’s area as well, making for an exciting conclusion.
