Manchester City has won the 2023 UEFA Super Cup after defeating Sevilla on penalties.
City won by 5-4 in the penalty shootouts on Wednesday after a 1-1 draw at regulation time in Athens. Sevilla defender Nemanja Gudelj smashed his penalty against the bar.
European champions City, who won the trophy for the first time, were far from their slick best, but hit back to force the game to penalties through Cole Palmer’s header.
Pep Guardiola has bemoaned his side’s lack of preparation for the new season and it showed under the baking heat in the Greek capital.
City badly missed the creative presence of Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva through a combination of injury and illness.
A four-month absence for De Bruyne due to a serious hamstring injury has exacerbated the loss of firepower offered by Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez since last season.
West Ham’s Brazilian international Lucas Paqueta has been linked with a move to the Etihad and this performance may serve as further proof City need to strengthen before the end of the transfer market.
Sevilla began their La Liga season with a disappointing 2-1 home defeat to Valencia.
But just as they did last season in lifting a seventh Europa League despite a 12th-placed league finish, they rose to the big occasion.
Sevilla goalkeeper Yassine Bounou was playing what is expected to be his final game for the club before a move to Saudi side Al Hilal.
The Moroccan international denied City a perfect start when he clawed away Nathan Ake’s powerful header that was destined for the bottom corner.
But Guardiola’s men soon became ponderous in possession and were punished on 25 minutes.
