After their respective triumphs on the European stage last season, Manchester City and Sevilla are gearing up to face off in Greece for the UEFA Super Cup this Wednesday. With hopes high, both teams aim to add more silverware to their cabinets.
The Spaniards, Sevilla, perennial titans of the Europa League, are making their seventh appearance in this showcase fixture. This feat is only surpassed by their compatriots Barcelona and Real Madrid. It might not come as a surprise to those who have followed Pep Guardiola’s relentless quest with Manchester City in the Champions League, which finally culminated in success last June. This will be the first time City will play in this competition.
Somewhere between a friendly and a fierce battle for a silver pot, the Super Cup promises to be an engaging contest, which, in case of a draw after 90 minutes, will be decided by a penalty shootout. Here’s a glimpse of how to catch the action and what to anticipate:
Match Details
Date: Wednesday, 16th August | Time: 3 pm ET
Venue: Stadio Georgios Karaiskakis, Piraeus, Greece
TV: CBS Sports Network | Live Stream: Paramount+
Odds: Manchester City -300; Draw +400; Sevilla +800
Storylines
Manchester City
Guardiola’s preparations have been thrown off-balance due to a hamstring injury Kevin De Bruyne picked up during their victory over Burnley. This was his first competitive appearance post a similar setback in the Champions League final. City is still assessing whether the Belgian requires surgery, but initial estimates suggested a possible three to four months away from the field.
Meanwhile, City’s pursuit of West Ham playmaker Lucas Paqueta is likely to intensify in light of De Bruyne’s concerns. Paqueta is a versatile talent capable of covering midfield and the right flank, although he’s no direct match for the 32-year-old Belgian’s creativity and scoring prowess. The onus for Wednesday’s game will likely fall on players like Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden – not exactly slim pickings – but not the ideal start to a season.
Sevilla
After a campaign where they combined European glory with a genuine La Liga title push, Sevilla has begun 2023-24 on a disappointing note, losing 2-1 away at Valencia and grappling to retain key players amidst interest from bigger clubs. Their track record in this final isn’t particularly impressive either, having won just once in their last six appearances. Additionally, their history against Manchester City, with a cumulative 12-3 defeat over four Champions League fixtures, isn’t promising.
Prediction
While Sevilla might relish their underdog status, they’ll likely face an uphill battle against Manchester City. Expect Manchester City’s quality to shine through. Final Score: Manchester City 2, Sevilla 0.