Javi
Martinez realized his “dream” of scripting UEFA Super Cup history for Bayern
Munich yet again on Thursday as he scored the extra-time winner to seal a 2-1 win
over Seville in Budapest.
The veteran
midfielder scored a 120th minute equaliser against Chelsea as Bayern
went on to win the 2013 UEFA Super Cup on penalties. Against Seville, Martinez’s
104th minute header was enough to hand Bayern a fourth Super Cup crown.
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Travelling Seville
and Bayern fans were scattered among the 15,180-strong crowd at the Puskas
Arena in Budapest as both teams played in front of fans for the first time since
the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, AFP reported.
Lucas
Ocampos dispatched an early penalty to give Seville the lead. German midfielder
Leon Goretzka equalized for Bayern and after two disallowed goals, Martinez
scored from a corner to seal the win.
Bayern
coach Hansi Flick lauded his team for “pulling through with their mentality. In
the end, my players went through the pain barrier to win”.
Having replaced
Goretzka on 99 minutes, Martinez – who was linked with a move back to Spain –
scored the winner to extend Bayern’s winning streak to 23 matches, stretching
back to February.
“Whenever I
wear the Bayern shirt, I always try to give my best and I showed that once
again today,” Martinez told Sky.
“I always
want to help the team by scoring a goal. It’s a dream come true. I’m really
happy to win this trophy for a second time after also scoring in 2013.”
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Having also
won the Champions League, Bundesliga and the German Cup, Bayern can win a fifth
trophy in 2020 when they face Borussia Dortmund in the German Super Cup next
week.
Seville
midfielder Ivan Rakitic, who recently returned after six years in FC Barcelona,
praised Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer for his crucial saves to deny Youssef
En-Nesyri.
“We saw
tonight how important Neuer is for them. We had two great chances to go ahead,
but he stopped them,” Rakitic said.
“Then we
gave away a silly corner and they scored. Nevertheless, we can be proud of how
we played against the best team in Europe.”
Seville
drew the first blood on 14 minutes after the VAR ruled David Alaba’s tackle on
Rakitic to be a foul, with Ocampos converting the resultant penalty.
Goretzka
got Bayern back on level terms when Mueller and Robert Lewandowski combined in
the area for the midfielder to smash home the equaliser at the 34th minute
mark.
Six minutes
after half-time, Lewandowski had the ball in the net after being set up by
Thomas Mueller, but the VAR ruled the Poland striker to be offside.
With an
hour gone, Bayern winger Leroy Sane was left frustrated after his shot powered
past Sevilla’s Moroccan goalkeeper Bono, but the VAR spotted Lewandowski had
fouled a Sevilla defender in the build-up.
With 90
minutes almost up, Manuel Neuer underlined his status as one of the world’s
best goalkeepers with a finger-tip save to deny En-Nesyri after Sevilla
attacked from the edge of their own penalty area.
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Sevilla
made a great start to extra-time with Bayern in all sorts of trouble, as
Ocampos had a shot blocked while En-Nesyri’s shot clipped the post after
crashing off Neuer’s leg.
However,
the scene was set for Martinez, a veteran of the side which won the 2013
Champions League final in London, to add to his chapter in Bayern’s folklore.
“I was
so happy when the coach brought Javi on, because I know how good he is with his
head from set pieces,” said Bayern captain Neuer.
“Sevilla
are a well-drilled team, it’s not easy to play against them, but overall we deserved
the win and can be proud of ourselves.”
