Champions League winners Bayern Munich will clash with Europa League winners Sevilla in the UEFA Super Cup on Thursday.
An electric Bayern have not lost a game of football since January, when they were beaten 5-2 by FC Nürnberg in the Bundesliga. Since then, they have reached their eighth Bundesliga and their first Champions League since 2013.
However, Seville will be no pushover. They showed their experience and grit in European competition en route to winning the 2020 Europa League, beating Manchester United in the semi-finals and Inter in the final to claim their sixth title – making them the most in the competition’s history. Became a successful team.
Nobody has loved the Super Cup more than Sevilla in recent years, and while Bayern are huge favourites, the Spanish side will not make it an easy ride for Die Rotten. Here’s a 90-minute preview of the heavyweight bout.
When is kick off? Thursday 24 September
What time is kick off? 20:00 (BST)
Where is it played? Piskas Arena
TV channel/live stream? BT Sport 1 (UK)
The referee? Anthony Taylor
Serge Gnabry’s hat trick. Two assists for Leroy Sané. ?pic.twitter.com/4fzdwbmsJe
— 90 Minutes (@90min_Football) September 18, 2020
Teenage full-back Alphonso Davies missed Bayern’s season opener against Schalke through injury, but is expected to be available again for the Super Cup.
Leroy Sane enjoyed a near-perfect debut for Bayern in the win over Schalke, but Hennessey Flick may turn to Kingsley Coman – who scored the winner in the Champions League final – as Sane recovers from a long injury. Increasing the fitness of the match. -Close. Serge Gnabry will almost certainly start on the other wing, having scored a hat-trick last time out.
Sevilla have a fully fit squad to choose from, although they are missing key players such as Sergio Reguilon and Ever Banega, who both started in the final against Inter, but have since left the club. .
Sergio Reguilon has joined Tottenham on a permanent deal this season / Robbie J Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
The signing of Ivan Rakitic gives their midfield a much-needed boost. Julien Lopategui needs every player he has to be in top form if they are to come close to stopping Bayern.
Bayern Munich: Never Pavard, Soule, Boateng, Davies; Kimmich, Goretzka; Gnabry, Muller, Sane; Lewandowski.
Seville: bond; Navas, Conde, Carlos, Escudero; Rakitic, Jordan, Fernando; Soso, De Jong, Campos.
Bayern are in fine form, kicking off their 2020/21 campaign with a thrilling 8-0 victory over Schalke. obviously.
Is he not human?
It’s called Rabona Lewandowski? #MiaSanMia @lewy_official pic.twitter.com/2tgpcOj53B
— FC Bayern English (@FCBayernEN) September 22, 2020
They haven’t lost a game since that defeat in January, and are currently on a 23-match winning streak in all competitions – last dropping points in February.
Los Palanganas ran out 3-2 winners against Levante in a friendly last week, but will still lack natural match sharpness heading into the Super Cup. And of all the matches where you can’t easily avoid it, this is one, unfortunately.
Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich 8-0 Schalke (18/9)
Paris Saint-Germain 0-1 Bayern Munich (23/8)
Lyon 0-3 Bayern Munich (19/8)
Barcelona 2-8 Bayern Munich (14/8)
Bayern Munich 4-1 Chelsea (8/8)
Seville
Sevilla 3-2 Levante (15/9)
Seville 3-2 Inter (21/8)
Sevilla 2-1 Man United (16/8)
Wolves 0-1 Seville (19/8)
Seville 2-0 Rome (6/8)
Sevilla are a game behind Bayern in fitness levels / AFP7/Getty Images
Die Roten will get a tough and physical matchup from Julien Lopategui, who will push them to the limit and make them work hard. His experience of grinding out results in big games shone through last season’s Europa League campaign, where he shut out Inter and Manchester United in similar fashion.
However, this likely won’t be enough. Bayern themselves are not at full fitness and are still capable of being beaten 8-0 in their first game of the season, which tells you all you need to know. It would be an interesting contest, but one that would end in victory for the Germans.
prediction: Bayern Munich 4-1 Seville