The annual European curtain raiser is upon us as Manchester City take on Sevilla in the UEFA Super Cup in Piraeus.
Manchester City, who face Sevilla on Wednesday, have already participated in the English curtain raiser and lost the Community Shield to Arsenal in penalties. Pep Guardiola has a significant opportunity to formally begin their European season with a trophy as they take on Sevilla in the UEFA Super Cup in Piraeus.
The ‘treble winners’ started their Premier League campaign with a comfortable victory over Burnley, scoring three goals, including two from Erling Haaland. Rodri was on hand to add the third and seal three points for the reigning champions.
Man City or Sevilla? 🏆#SuperCup pic.twitter.com/u83SnWdbd6
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) August 15, 2023
Now, they have to play a big game quickly before returning to domestic action at the weekend against Newcastle United. Guardiola will look for ways to get past Sevilla and lift the Super Cup in the first time of asking.
Sevilla are here against all odds, having brought some purpose to their otherwise dreadful season domestically. They were 19th in the league in the middle of January. Jose Luis Mendilibar’s arrival revitalised the Andalusian side, and then the road led towards Europa League glory.
Not even Jose Mourinho’s AS Roma could rattle their spirit in the final, and then Sevilla lifted the trophy to continue their legacy as the most successful side in the competition. Now, they face the unenviable challenge of meeting Manchester City in the Super Cup.
A win over Pep Guardiola’s men could help Sevilla galvanise their mood for the current season and instil belief they can compete with the big guns. They could also lay down the marker for their UEFA Champions League campaign ahead, as lifting a trophy at the start of the campaign will always bring positivity to any team.
Team News & Tactics
Manchester City
The injury to Kevin De Bruyne overshadowed the opening-day win over Burnley. Pep Guardiola has suggested it is a reoccurrence of the problem sustained during the Champions League final. And now, Manchester City have confirmed the Belgian will remain sidelined for several months.
PEP 💬 [On De Bruyne] It’s a serious injury, we have to decide on surgery but he will be out for a few months. pic.twitter.com/aH7PFzqGXq
— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 15, 2023
Mateo Kovacic, one of the better debutants of the weekend, seems like the natural replacement for De Bruyne in the current squad, although the club are currently chasing West Ham’s Lucas Paqueta. Meanwhile, Guardiola could also use Kalvin Phillips in some capacity, although the England international only seems like an option off the bench, meaning Rodri will start.
Guardiola could also shuffle the pack at the back, with Aymeric Laporte and new arrival Josko Gvardiol likely to start for the Cityzens. Ruben Dias is also a doubt alongside John Stones and Kyle Walker. It could allow Rico Lewis to begin on the right side alongside Manuel Akanji.
In the attack, Guardiola could keep faith in the content of forwards and deploy Julian Alvarez in a hybrid role behind Haaland. Jack Grealish and Phil Foden will likely play in the wide areas, as Bernardo Silva might miss out with a problem suffered after the Burnley win.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Ortega; Lewis, Akanji, Gvardiol, Laporte; Rodri, Kovacic; Foden, Alvarez, Grealish; Haaland
Sevilla
Jose Luis Mendilibar may have to contend with the same lineup that lost to Valencia at the weekend in La Liga. He also lost Loic Bade to a red card, which will not count for European competition. The problems are at the back, with Tanguy Nianzou missing out with a hamstring problem, while Marcao is yet to return to fill training.
📋 Lista de 2⃣5⃣ jugadores para disputar la #SuperCup en El Pireo. ✈️🇬🇷#WeareSevilla #NuncaTeRindas
— Sevilla Fútbol Club (@SevillaFC) August 14, 2023
Hence, Bade will partner with Nemanja Gudelj at the back, with Jesus Navas and Marcus Acuna keeping their places as full-backs. Behind the backline, Mendilibar will have heaved a sigh of relief after Real Madrid signed Kepa Arrizabalaga after links to Sevilla keeper Yassine Bounou.
The Morrocan will look forward to the season with Sevilla unless there’s another twist in the tale waiting in the background. Former Manchester City star Fernando and Ivan Rakitic will keep their places in midfield, while Erik Lamela and Luis Ocampos will provide width.
Suso will look to add creativity from the no.10 role, as Mendilibar will see this lineup as the strongest one he could pick in the current circumstances. Youssef En-Nesyri will lead the line for Sevilla, hoping to thwart Manchester City’s backline and cause problems with his physicality and height.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Bounou; Navas, Bade, Gudelj, Acuna; Fernando, Rakitic; Ocampos, Suso, Lamela; En-Nesyri
Key Stats
- Sevilla will feature in their seventh Super Cup final, losing their previous five.
- Only one team in the last ten editions of the Super Cup have won, being Champions of the Europa League.
- Manchester City will feature for the first time in a Super Cup final.
- Manchester City won their last two games against Sevilla in last season’s Champions League.
- Chelsea and Liverpool are the only English sides to have lifted the Super League since the turn of the century.
Player to Watch
Phil Foden
RODRIGO 💬 [On Foden] I think he is the best player we have between the lines, turning and facing the goal. I like it very much when he plays there [between the lines] but when he plays as a winger he is also decisive. It’s up to the coach where he decides to put him. His talent… pic.twitter.com/IipnX2tDBT
— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 15, 2023
Despite Manchester City winning the treble last season, Phil Foden would have liked a more important role in the side. Yet, Pep Guardiola identified his loss in form early on and continued to keep him as a bench option for most parts of the season.
Foden will hope to bounce back and take up the opportunity presented to him due to the long-term injury to Kevin De Bruyne. He can inject some creativity missing through the absence of the Belgian and has this tremendous chance to stake a permanent place in Guardiola’s lineup for the current season.
Prediction
Manchester City 3-1 Sevilla
Manchester City found a way at the weekend to keep scoring goals in Kevin De Bruyne’s absence and will continue doing that for the foreseeable future. They will find plenty of openings against Sevilla in the Super Cup, with Pep Guardiola’s side expected to net at least three times in this showpiece.
Sevilla need help concentrating in games, although they showed plenty of resilience in the Europa League last season. Hence, there’s optimism for them going into this clash, but going by current form; Manchester City are the clear favourites to win this clash with a significant margin.
