BUDAPEST — Bayern Munich beat Sevilla 2-1 after extra time on Thursday to lift the UEFA Super Cup and complete a quadruple under coach Hansi Flick, in the first European game played with fans in the stands since the sport returned amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Substitute Javi Martinez headed in the winner in the 104th minute after Europa League winners Sevilla had taken a 13th-minute lead through Lucas Ocampos's penalty and Bayern levelled through Leon Goretzka in the 34th.
The Bavarians, unbeaten now in 32 consecutive matches, also won the domestic league and Cup double as well as the Champions League after Flick took over last November. Their last defeat dates back to December, 2019.
Bayern were the better side throughout and missed a bagful of chances through Robert Lewandowski, Benjamin Pavard and Thomas Mueller in the first half,
Yet it was Bayern keeper Neuer who kept them in the game first with a one-on-one save against Youssef En-Nesyri to send the game to extra time and then pushing another shot from the Sevilla player onto the post two minutes into extra time.
Sevilla see their match-winning moment, and Neuer says no pic.twitter.com/Z7WFrsnCar
— Champions League on CBS Sports (@UCLonCBSSports) September 24, 2020
One more look at this Neuer brilliance pic.twitter.com/JzABI8QFuT
— Champions League on CBS Sports (@UCLonCBSSports) September 24, 2020
The Spaniards gradually ran out of steam, however, and it was only a matter of time until Bayern scored again.
Martinez, who is reportedly close to agreeing to a return to Athletic Bilbao this season, had come on five minutes earlier and benefited from being given too much space to head in on the rebound.
The Spaniard also scored in extra time in Bayern's only previous Super Cup win in 2013.
Some 15,000 fans were seated in Budapest's Puskas Arena with the game seen as a test event for the gradual return of fans to European games.
The match was held amid a growing second wave of COVID-19, with Hungarian cases at record highs, which had prompted warnings of the possible consequences of mass gatherings such as this game.
UEFA Super Cup Highlights
The @EuropaLeague champions draw first!
Ocampos slots home the penalty and Sevilla takes the early lead. pic.twitter.com/rcXaHtpGB4— Champions League on CBS Sports (@UCLonCBSSports) September 24, 2020
Lewandowski Goretzka
Bayern won't be denied and we're level in Budapest pic.twitter.com/ckTha5F4d2— Champions League on CBS Sports (@UCLonCBSSports) September 24, 2020
Bayern take the lead! Javi Martinez once again comes up massive for the Germans. pic.twitter.com/mELBcz3gZg
— Champions League on CBS Sports (@UCLonCBSSports) September 24, 2020
(Reporting by Karolos Grohmann, Editing by Toby Davis and Ed Osmond)
