2023-08-16 07:00:00
The curse that haunts Sevilla in the Super Cup was fulfilled once more in Athens, following an exercise in fortitude once morest the currently considered best team in the world, Manchester City. The Mendilibar team took the lead on the scoreboard, deserved to score in the second half and knew how to suffer hanging almost from the crossbar in the final stretch of the match until reaching a fate in which normally, always in Europe, they did not fail: the penalties, those that They gave him another Europa League once more, the Seventh, in Budapest once morest Roma. There was no extra time in the duel in Piraeus, so that was what those from Nervión took off following having lost six titles of this nature in a row, the last three during extra time. Bono, who will leave for Arabia in the coming days, was unable to say goodbye with a glorious epilogue and was unable to stop any of City’s shots in the shootout. Neither does his counterpart, Ederson. Gudelj hit the fifth on the crossbar and the citizens celebrated their fourth title of the year, the Clover, with the well-known ‘Hey Jude’ by the Beatles.
Sevilla’s defeat confirms the overwhelming logic of the last 10 years, in which the Super Cup was almost always won by the favorite, that is, the Champions League champion. Only Atlético de Madrid, in 2018, has been able to make a splash since 2013 and beat its eternal rival Real Madrid 2-4 in Tallinn. There is another truth: with Athens, Sevilla has succumbed no less than six times in this crucial duel. Two once morest Madrid, one once morest Barcelona, another once morest Bayern and now this nouveau-rich City, a more recent but no less fearsome mastodon.
Mendilibar lined up the eleven basically planned, but with a fundamental nuance: Joan Jordán, a footballer who has significantly decreased his performance since that famous night of the stick at the Benito Villamarín, came in as a pivot in place of the indisposed Fernando. Good game from the Catalan, which may help him redeem himself. Marketing, yes, did not condition the Basque coach’s plans and both Bono (transferred to Arabia due to lack of fringes) and Marcos Acuña (whom Aston Villa is making dizzy) appeared among those chosen. The Moroccan goalkeeper supported Sevilla at a somewhat timid start and the Argentine full-back invented the cross that put the Nervión team ahead. His ball into the heart of the area was caught by En-Nesyri with one of his gliding flights (0-1, 24′). One does not understand how an offer of at least 40 million euros has not already arrived for Youssef, who during 2023 has already scored a whopping 18 goals. Due to the tremendous power and plasticity of the jump, the North African striker’s goal was reminiscent of the one he scored once morest Portugal in the last World Cup in Qatar, the paradise where he recovered his version of the lethal striker.
The physical problems of De Bruyne, Bernardo and Rubén Dias, who ultimately traveled to Athens and was on the bench, led Guardiola to force Gvardiol’s debut. The most expensive center back in history formed a defense of three with Akanji further forward, acting as Rodri’s squire. The Spanish midfielder governs City’s midfield with a stunning hierarchy. Under his tempo, the skyblue team locked Sevilla in their area during a suffocating last quarter of an hour of the first half, but it didn’t seem like Erling Haaland’s night. Grealish and the youngster Palmer struck from the wings and got more than one poisoned cross, but luckily for Bono without finding a finisher.
Claps sounded for Sevillanas in Piraeus with Sevilla’s electric start to the second half, mounted on the frenetic verticality of the best Lucas Ocampos. From the boots of the Argentine winger came a handful of very dangerous plays that might have put Mendilibar’s team very close to their second Super Cup, but En-Nesyri lost with his feet what he had won with his head. The Moroccan failed even two heads-up once morest Ederson. The Brazilian goalkeeper has been doubted in recent times but he took advantage of the night in Athens to vindicate himself. He left City alive and despite so much Sevilla forgiveness, the English did not forgive. Rodri, who should possibly begin to be evaluated as a candidate for the Ballon d’Or, crossed with silk and his ball was headed by Palmer over Bono (1-1, 63′). The youth youth player, Pep’s great discovery, would try once more shortly following with his left foot but was prevented from scoring by a dive from the goalkeeper.
The ball had once once more become a total monopoly of the English team, which invaded the Sevilla area during the last half hour although with more threats than punctures. Crouched, exhausted from running following the ball, Mendilibar’s team managed to swim to the edge of the field. But, a bad omen: contrary to what happened in Budapest, Sevilla lost both draws. The one in the goal launched himself in front of the City fans, and the one who shot first. Haaland did it, who did not miss from 11 meters what is usually described as the most important shot in a series, the initial one. Accustomed to putting on Superman’s cape at moments like this, Yassine Bono might not dress as a hero this time. And Gudelj will not forget Georgios Karaiskakis’ Fondo Norte goal forever, the place where the bad feeling of a team already accustomed to looking at the Super Cup trophy with bitter melancholy continues.
Changes
Juanlu Sánchez (73′, Óliver Torres), Gonzalo Montiel (82′, Jesús Navas), Julian Alvarez (84′, Cole Palmer), Rafa Mir (92′, Youssef En-Nesyri), breast (92′, Erik Lamela)
Goals
0-1, 24′: En-Nesyri1-1, 62′: Cole Palmer
Cards
Referee: François Letexier
Referee VAR: Jerome Brisard, Eric Wattellier
Loic Bade (32′, Yellow) Coverslip (60′,Yellow) Juanlu Sanchez (89′, Yellow)
1695026001
#endless #curse #AS.com
