Everybody thought Sevilla would get massacred by Bayern Munich in the UEFA Supercup on Thursday. We believed the goal-scoring machine was virtually unbeatable but they found a worthy opponent in Sevilla FC. Julen Lopetegui’s squad decided they would come out and fight against one of the most powerful clubs in recent history.
The Europa League champions started the match with a brave approach that got them an early awarded penalty.
Ivan Rakitic was decisive on his first official match with his beloved club as he got knocked down inside the box.
Lucas Ocampos was the man who took the shot from the spot and he completely fooled Manuel Neuer with a no-look attempt. Sevilla held to this result for 20 minutes during the first half until Leon Goretzka scored the equalizer before the break.
Hansi Flick knows that Bayern doesn’t have such an overwhelming control of the ball without Thiago Alcantara. He tried to use Joshua Kimmick on that spot with a different outcome.
The German manager knows that he needs to make a few tweaks here and there against more competitive opponents. Sevilla was a perfect test for him to try out a few things. Bayern returned to ball possession after the break but the Spaniards never gave up during the second half.
In fact, Manuel Neuer was the man of the match after two crucial saves right before the final whistle that could’ve made them lose the final. Despite that major heartbreak for Sevilla, Lopetegui’s squad didn’t falter during the extra time.
Javi Martinez was the hero of the evening after coming as a sub for the last half hour of the game. He scored the goal that keeps Bayern Munich’s dream alive. They will attempt to emulate FC Barcelona’s six-trophy haul from 2009. Their next challenge is Borussia Dortmund in the German Supercup on Wednesday.
There was also some record for Thomas Muller. The UEFA Super Cup win took him to 26 trophies for Bayern so far and saw him become the joint-most decorated player in German history alongside former teammate Bastian Schweinsteiger after the win. It has been a good year for Bayern domestically and on the continental scene as well.
