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BUDAPEST (Reuters) – Bayern Munich beat Sevilla 2-1 after extra time on Thursday to lift the UEFA Super Cup and complete a four-game with coach Hansi Flick in the first European game played with fans in the stands since that sport returned in the midst of COVID. -19 pandemic.
Substitute Javi Martínez, possibly in his last game with Bayern, headed the winner in the 104th minute after Europa League champions Sevilla took the lead in the 13th minute with a Lucas Ocampos penalty and Bayern tied at through Leon Goretzka at 34.
The Bavarians, now undefeated in 32 consecutive games, also won the national league and Cup double, as well as the Champions League after Flick took over last November. His last defeat dates back to December 2019.
“It was an intense match, but we deserved to win,” Flick told reporters. “We are still not fully in our rhythm despite our great victory (8-0) over Schalke 04 at the weekend.
“But the mentality of the team, especially after going 1-0 down, was sensational. They fought very strong opponents and deserved the victory.”
Bayern were the best team at all times and lost a host of opportunities through Robert Lewandowski, Benjamin Pavard and Thomas Mueller in the first half.
However, it was Bayern goalkeeper Neuer who kept them in the game first with a one-on-one save against Youssef En-Nesyri to send the game into extra time and then pushed another shot from the Sevilla player to the post for two minutes. in the extension. .
However, the Spanish were running out of strength and it was only a matter of time before Bayern scored again.
Martinez, who appears to be close to accepting a return to Athletic Bilbao this season, benefited from being given too much room to jump on the rebound.
The Spaniard also scored in extra time in Bayern’s only previous Super Cup win in 2013.
Some 15,000 fans sat at the Puskas Arena in Budapest with the game seen as a test event for the gradual return of fans to European games.
“We all know that making the right decision is not easy,” Flick said of allowing fans. “But it felt good to have an atmosphere in the stadium. It felt a bit more like football. I hope all the fans come home healthy.”
The match took place amid a second rising wave of COVID-19, with cases in Hungary at record highs, prompting warnings about the possible consequences of mass gatherings like this game.
(Reporting by Karolos Grohmann; Editing by Toby Davis and Ed Osmond)
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