Manchester City won the Supercup in the penalty thriller

Manchester City won the European Supercup trophy on their first appearance. The Champions League winners beat Europa League winners FC Sevilla 5-4 on penalties in Athens.

Youssef En-Nesyri (25′) put Sevilla ahead in the first half, after the break 21-year-old Cole Palmer (63′) equalised. No more goals were scored by the end of regulation time, so the game went straight to penalties. There all the shooters showed strong nerves until the 5:4 and converted, the fifth FC Sevilla shooter Nemanja Gudelj only hit the crossbar.

Manchester City dominated, FC Sevilla countered

Both teams started energetically at the Georgios Karaiskakis stadium. Manchester City scored the first big chance through Nathan Ake, Sevilla goalie Bono clearing the Dutchman’s header in the 8th minute. In the 17th minute, the Moroccan made another save when Jack Grealish shot from the edge of the box. A little later, the “Citizens” – with new acquisition Josko Gvardiol for the first time in the starting line-up, but without the injured Kevin De Bruyne – were caught cold. After an Acuna cross, En-Nesyri converted a powerful header to make it 1-0.

With speed and direct passes, the Spaniards often managed to break through the defense of the Champions League winner. For the most part, however, Manchester City had possession and dictated the game. Palmer’s equalizer came as no surprise.

After that, the team of coach Pep Guardiola acted at times in power play mode, but could not score another goal. In the 91st minute, Bono saved again from an Ake header. According to media reports, the 32-year-old is about to move to the lucrative Saudi Arabian league. He failed in the penalty shootout this time, but came close in Kyle Walker’s attempt. The defender was also close to a move to Bayern Munich but extended his contract with the English champions. In Athens, he took charge of the penalty shoot-out as captain.

A big celebration ruled out Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji. “Maybe we can have a beer, that’s all we can do. The next task is already waiting for us on Saturday.” This is called Newcastle in the Premier League.

Guardiola drew level with Ancelotti

For Pep Guardiola it was the fourth Supercup victory as a coach after triumphs with FC Barcelona (2009, 2011) and Bayern Munich (2013). He drew level with Carlo Ancelotti, who also won the clash between the Champions League winners and the Europa League winners four times (2003 and 2007 with AC Milan, 2011 and 2014 with Real Madrid). Both have also lifted the Supercup trophy twice as players: Ancelotti in 1989 and 1990 with AC Milan, Guardiola in 1992 and 1997 with FC Barcelona.

• Manchester City – Sevilla FC 5:4 i. E (1:1, 0:1)
  Goals: Palmer (63′); En Nesyri (25.)
  Penalties: 1-0 Haaland, 1-1 Ocampos, 2-1 Alvarez, 2-2 Mir, 3-2 Kovacic, 3-3 Rakitic, 4-3 Grealish, 4-4 Montiel, 5-4 Walker, Gudelj Latte