Manchester City added the UEFA Super Cup to the Treble they claimed last season with victory over Sevilla on penalties in Athens.
Pep Guardiola’s Champions League winners lost the Community Shield to Arsenal in a shootout, but saw their fortunes transformed when Sevilla’s Nemanja Gudelj hit the bar after nine successful penalties.
City had to come from behind in an entertaining encounter to force penalties after a towering header from Youssef En-Nesyri put the Europa League holders ahead in 25 minutes.
Sevilla goalkeeper, Bono, and his Manchester City counterpart, Ederson, both excelled with fine saves before man-of-the-match, Cole Palmer, rose at the far post in the 63rd minute to level with a looping header from Rodri’s cross.
It set up the tense finale that resulted in another piece of silverware being added to Guardiola’s vast collection.
The talented Palmer has already made an impact this season with a spectacular goal in the Community Shield against Arsenal.
The 21-year-old’s performance in Athens not only made a case for further first-team action but also drew praise from a predecessor.
He had already tested Bono and shown nice touches in the first half before guiding in the header for City’s equaliser.
Palmer’s languid left-footed style on City’s right flank posed a real threat, with several inviting deliveries not getting the reward they deserved.
Erling Haaland, Julian Alvarez, Mateo Kovacic, Jack Grealish and Kyle Walker were successful, before Sevilla blinked first to start the celebrations for the English side that also won the Premier
While no-one could seriously make a case for the UEFA Super Cup being anywhere near the top of City’s list of priorities, Guardiola made it clear how desperately he wanted to win the trophy – and his joy when the shootout was over was a clear illustration of that.
After previous triumphs with Barcelona and Bayern Munich, he became the first coach to win the competition with three different clubs.
—BBC
