Manchester City defeated Sevilla 5-4 on penalties to claim their first-ever UEFA Super Cup win afterthe match ended level at 1-1 at the end of 90 minute in Athens.
Having defeated Inter Milan to win their maiden UEFA Champions League crown, the Cityzens were up against perennial Europa League champions Sevilla for a piece of silverware that had never been won in the club’s history.
Sevilla showed that they did not just come to make up the numbers in Athens, and took the lead after only 25 minutes as striker Youssef En-Nesyri showed off his incredible aerial ability to leap above the English side’s defenders and head home a cross from Marcos Acuna.
Manchester City dominated the ball but failed to find any penetration with Kevin De Bruyne out injured and Bernardo Silva not in the squad for the game. They struggled to create chances for striker Erling Haaland to do his business, as a result.
Sevilla had a number of other opportunities to score, but Ederson proved a capable shot-stopper in goal to ensure his side did not fall further behind as Sevilla found joy in transition.
Manchester City continued to knock on the door as Sevilla defended brilliantly, and their equaliser came in the 63rd minute after a period of sustained pressure. A cross from Rodri found youngster Cole Palmer unmarked at the far post, and the 21-year-old looped a header over Bono into the far corner of the goal for his second goal of the season.
Both sides tried to score a winner in regulation time but failed, and the match went to penalties. The Cityzens lost the Community Shield to Arsenal on penalties and were keen to not lose once more.
Both sides scored each of their first four penalties, with captain Kyle Walker scoring Manchester City’s fifth and Nemanja Gudelj hitting his effort against the crossbar to seal his side’s fate.
Manchester City emulated Chelsea (2021) and Liverpool (2019) in being the English sides to win the UEFA Super Cup since 1991. Pep Guardiola became the first man to win the trophy with three different teams.
