Manchester City came from behind in normal time before beating Sevilla in a penalty shootout to win the Super Cup for the first time in their history.
Presented with the rare opportunity to claim a trophy that did not already have their name on it, City initially struggled to rise to the occasion and found themselves behind thanks to Youssef En-Nesyri’s towering header.
The Sevilla striker was denied by Ederson several times in the second period and was made to pay for his wastefulness when Cole Palmer looped a header over Yassine Bounou to equalise.
City belatedly improved as the game headed towards full-time and almost won the game in stoppage time when Nathan Ake forced a sharp save from Bounou.
But City got the win they craved when Nemanja Gudelj missed the decisive penalty of the shootout, striking the bar and handing Pep Guardiola a record-equalling fourth Super Cup.
How City claimed their first trophy of the season
Manchester City celebrate their victory in the shootout
After finally claiming the elusive Champions League crown they had craved for the best part of two decades, City ultimately made the most of being granted access to the exclusive Super Cup.
But the treble winners made hard work of their meeting with Sevilla, who may have won the Europa League last season but also slumped to a mid-table finish in LaLiga and are set to lose key personnel before the transfer window closes.
Ake and Jack Grealish tested Bounou in the first half but it was Sevilla who opened the scoring when they executed a perfect counter attack, culminating in En-Nesyri dominating Ake and Josko Gvardiol to power in Marcos Acuna’s cross.
Youssef En-Nesyri gave Sevilla the lead in the first half
Gvardiol continued to endure a difficult evening on his first start for City – as did Erling Haaland, who completed just one pass during a virtually anonymous opening 45 minutes.
The prolific striker was only marginally more involved in the second half, with En-Nesyri looking the more likely to find the net as Sevilla consistently exposed City when they turned over possession.
But with City beginning to bang their heads against the brick wall that was Sevilla’s defence, it was left to academy product Palmer to reinvigorate his more experienced team-mates when he guided in Rodri’s cross.
Cole Palmer equalised for Man City in the second half
City finally began to look like themselves as they pinned Sevilla inside their own box for much of the final 20 minutes, but the Sevilla stood firm, with Bounou again saving from Ake, and Haaland seeing his only clear opening of the night charged down.
Haaland did find the net with the first penalty of the shootout – as did the next eight players to step up, meaning it was left to Gudelj to score and keep his side in the contest.
But the Serbia international struck the bar, meaning Sevilla have now lost in their last six Super Cup appearances, while City avoided a second successive shootout defeat following their loss to Arsenal in the Community Shield earlier this month.
Stream Premier League action on Sky Sports with NOW for just £26 a month for 12 months. Cancel anytime.
What’s next?
Manchester City now switch their focus back to the Premier League, with Newcastle visiting the Etihad on Saturday – kick-off 8pm.
The Premier League champions then travel to newly-promoted Sheffield United on Sunday August 27, live on Sky Sports – kick-off 2pm.
Sunday 27th August 1:00pm
Kick off 2:00pm
Sevilla’s next match is in LaLiga when they take on Alaves on Monday – kick-off 6pm.
