Sevilla will look to bring the Super Cup back to Nike and Spain when they lock horns with Bayern Munich at the Puskas Arena on Thursday night.
Los Rojiblancos have also released a special one-off kit for this clash and the shirt, a modified version of their 2020/21 home strip, will feature a special orange patch that commemorates their six Europa League triumphs. It also has a new typography on the back, influenced by the city of Seville (in the words of the club)
La Liga teams have dominated the USC like no other, and between 2009 and 2019, the only non-Spanish teams to have won it were Bayern (also Sevilla’s opponents this weekend) in 2013 and Liverpool last year.
The last Nike wearing team to win the Cup were Atleti in 2018, and should Sevilla win here, they will bring the trophy back to Spain, and indeed, back to the Nike cabinet as well!
The Super Cup could even have been an all-Nike affair had Paris Saint-Germain beaten Bayern in Portugal. The Parisians actually had the better chances, but the likes of Neymar and Mbappe seemed to have left their shooting boots in the French capital, and a goal from Kingsley Coman (an ex Paris player himself) ensured Bayern completed a fantastic treble (League, Cup and Champions League)
Sevilla have actually played in more Super Cups than Bayern, but luck hasn’t quite been on their side since they triumphed in their very first attempt (v Barca in 2006)
Uniforms worn by Sevilla in the Super Cup in their last four defeats
Milan (Adidas) beat Sevilla (Joma) 3-1 in 2007
Real Madrid (Adidas) beat Sevilla (Warrior) 2-0 in 2014
Barcelona (Nike) beat Sevilla (New Balance) 5-4 in 2015
Real Madrid (Adidas) beat Sevilla (NB) 3-2 in 2016
It probably then comes as no surprise that a quick look at the odds via the NJP site suggests that the Super Cup will go to Germany this time around. Bayern come into this game having scored eight goals, not once, but twice in the last month- once against Barcelona in the CL, and then in their last game against Schalke in the Bundesliga. Neither Barca nor S04 are pushovers by any stretch of imagination, especially the former but Bayern could’ve reached double digits in both their games- such was their quality on the pitch.
Bayern’s dominance can also be gauged by their presence in the shortlists for UEFA’s annual awards- coach Hansi Flick has been nominated as has striker Robert Lewandowski.
Coman hasn’t made the trip to Hungary as he is in quarantine, but Bayern otherwise have a full squad to select from. This will also be Sevilla’s first competitive game without midfield maestro Ever Banega, who played a key role in their EL triumph.
Four of the last five Super Cups have gone to extra time- will Sevilla stop the Bayern juggernaut and bring the trophy back to Spain?
Bayern Munchen vs Sevilla (USC, Budapest- 24 September)