Manchester City – Sevilla: Citizens Collect One More Cup For The Cabinet (1-1, 5-4 After Penalties)
Spain is synonymous with a beautiful brand of football. That essence, however, has not trapped the thinking of either manager in this clash. Manchester City and Sevilla battled it out in this spirit to the death, but vindication was sweet for the victor that atoned for their recent failings.
Tactical analysis and match report by Emmanuel Adeyemi-Abere.
Manchester City have strengthened their stranglehold over the Premier League in the last five years under Pep Guardiola. Yet, a complete checklist for this project demanded success on the European stage. Erling Haaland entered the plans in the summer of 2022 as the number nine that was missing in the squad, and he highlights how this outfit has evolved over time. Physical duels and transitions are new tools in their arsenal and no longer the hazards these specialists with the ball feared so gravely.
Here, Pep is late to the party rather than the genius that leads the way. José Luis Mendilibar is one of his countercultural compatriots. He has typically preferred a direct, vertical approach to the sport. That blueprint accompanied him upon his arrival to Andalusia, where Sevilla had slumped to 19th place in the new year and sacked two managers by March. Though the team was not wholly in his image at the end of the campaign, victory in the Europa League final was testament to his efforts.
Mendilibar would have worried even more about the Super Cup after a 2-1 loss at home to Valencia on Friday. This first LaLiga outing of the new season produced a performance that underwhelmed. But he only chose to rotate two members from his starting eleven. One of these switches was enforced alteration. A stomach bug ruled out Fernando, so Joan Jordán joined Ivan Rakitić in the middle of the park. Suso also dropped to the bench, and Óliver Torres came in for him as the attacking midfielder.
Pep’s plans have suffered thanks to a significant absence. Kevin de Bruyne limped off the field away at Burnley with an aggravation of his hamstring injury. Mateo Kovačić, his replacement in that match, started in the midfield. Joško Gvardiol, his fellow Croatian, made a first start for his new club as a left back. The offense also required recalibration. Phil Foden filled the hole behind Erling Haaland, Jack Grealish took his place as the left winger, and Cole Palmer flanked the talismanic striker on the right.
Gradual gains in territory
John Stones and Rico Lewis were both on the bench, so one could have imagined Pep approached this game with a different structure in mind. However, he stuck to a 3-2-2-3 system. Gvardiol, Aké, and Walker formed a base of three at the back. Manuel Akanji was the man to advance into midfield to generate the double pivot with Rodri— a role he renounced after a brief stint against Everton in May.
Mendilibar’s manic press of the past dialed down in aggression, but he did not deploy Sevilla in a low block. Without opening up at the back with a reckless offside line, their 4-2-3-1 shape moved over the halfway line in the opening stages. Youssef En-Nesyri put on the press, Torres shadowed off the striker, while Érik Lamela and Lucas Ocampos, to the left and right, funneled wide pressing traps.
The two teams traded success in this phase. City could switch between a back three, four and three again with the dropping movements of Rodri or Akanji and the passing of Ederson. The extra numbers at the back in their structure and flexibility of the exact layout of these players could lure in bodies to switch and release to the far side of the back three. However, Sevilla also forced several turnovers, stripping the ball from Akanji, and only dropped off more after the first quarter of an hour.
11th minute: offensive sequence from Manchester City. Rodri dropped into the first line between Gvardiol and Aké, and Akanji moved into the blindside of the advancing En-Nesyri. Torres briefly checks inside to block a central passing lane, so Rodri is then free to shift to his right and pass to Walker. City escape pressure and the fullback can eventually hit a diagonal ball towards Grealish.
Routine route one approach
On the other hand, Sevilla searched for broad and fast routes to the goal. City defended in their usual 4-4-2 formation, where Foden joined Haaland in the first line of defense. But the pair rarely needed to fear extensive passing sequences to connect with the double pivot. The focus lay on reclaiming long balls and winning duels or pushing forward through the flanks. Their goal demonstrated this tact.
Sevilla collected their composure after the cooling break and struck decisively. Jordán split the press, and the rest of the team ran to raid the room in City’s territory. Ocampos and Acuña carried the charge forward, and the left back whipped the ball into the box. Aké turned to track Lamela, while Gvardiol was not tight enough to En-Nesyri. The striker leapt above his marker, burying a header into the net.
Sevilla lead Man City in the #SuperCup! 😱
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) August 16, 2023
Youssef En-Nesyri with the goal to give the Europa League champions the lead! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/YKOxC3Xi0C
The defensive block sank further back, but moments materialized to extend the lead. An erratic spell for City after the break allowed En-Nesyri and Ocampos to exploit space in transition— no more so than in the 50th minute. The striker bore down on goal to square up with Ederson, but fired straight at the goalkeeper to allow the Champions League winners to breathe. That profligacy would be fatal.
Crushing control brings the correct conclusion
Haaland’s presence as the number nine has encouraged Pep to promote patience from his teammates. As time elapsed, it was not merely down to Kovačić to release the striker with his threaded vertical through balls into the channels to breach the defense in the final third. Instead, more passes to connect the dots with the wingers shored up their presence in enemy territory. The two higher figures in the midfield box, Foden and Kovačić, also switched sides to receive with their better foot on the underlap.
61st minute: offensive sequence from Manchester City. Rakitić follows the underlapping run from Foden in support of the dribbling Grealish. The left winger chops back and then passes to Rodri. Haaland is in the channel between fullback and center-back, pinning Acuña to leave the far post free. Palmer makes a deep run into this zone, but Ocampos successfully tracks him on this occasion.
City’s control finally broke the resistance from their opponents. A loose ball bobbled to Rodri, releasing Foden to his left. Rodri received again just outside the penalty area and clipped a cross to the far post. Haaland had drifted to the right of the box while Walker and Palmer had advanced in the blindside of Acuña. The winger connected, planting a header beyond Bono in the 63rd minute. The tempering of the tempo improved through the final half hour of action, but the score remained level.
Penalties would decide City’s fate for the second time in a fortnight. Pep introduced Julian Álvarez in place of Palmer in the 85th minute, and he converted in the shootout. Mendilibar similarly brought on Rafa Mir in the dying embers of open play as one of the other eight players to slot home from twelve yards in a string of nine successful efforts. Walker was closest of those men to missing the mark, but pressure bested the Andalusians. Power would ruin placement for Gudelj in a sudden death situation.
Lift that trophy high, @kylewalker2! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/7cwecakIMz
— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 16, 2023
Takeaways
Pep does not expect the peak from his outfit at this point of the year but relies on results, so the stakes stay high in the final furlong. This success, a first in the UEFA Super Cup, is one that will please him and atones for the blow in the Community Shield. Their prodigious youths continue to freshen up his roster of options, and their patience with the ball will wear down many other sides. Newcastle United await on the weekend: an adversary of intensity and physicality that will sternly test their new muscle.
Sevilla’s steel and pedigree in Europe contributed to a closer contest than many anticipated. Yet, the dynamics of the duel also played into their favor. A high 55% share of the ball in their LaLiga loss contrasted to a mere 26% in this match. Mendilibar’s men stayed true to their new identity and this outcome is another indicator that the club could create more magic on the continent. How it translates to the league is another matter altogether. Three points on the road at Alavés is next on the agenda.
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