Category: Sports News

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 some 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.

Bayern were the better side throughout and missed a bagful of chances through Robert Lewandowski, Benjamin Pavard and Thomas Mueller in the first half.

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.

“It was an intense game but we deserved to win,” Flick told reporters. “We are not yet fully in our rhythm despite our big win (8-0) over Schalke 04 on the weekend.

“But the mentality of the team, especially after going 1-0 down, was sensational. They battled back against very strong opponents and deserved the win.”

But it was Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer who kept them in the game when he twice denied Youssef En-Nesyri with superb saves before Martinez benefited from being given too much space to head in on the rebound.

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.

“We all know it is not easy to take right decision,” Flick said of allowing fans. “But it felt good to have an atmosphere in the stadium. It felt a bit more like football. I hope all the fans return home healthy.”

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.

Pep Guardiola has suggested Liam Delap will get more chances after the 17-year-old striker marked his Manchester City debut with a goal.

Delap, son of former Stoke defender Rory, scored City’s opener in the 2-1 win over Bournemouth in the Carabao Cup third round on Thursday and with Sergio Aguero still absent because of a knee problem, Guardiola says he may get more opportunities this season.

“The problems we have up front, Liam will stay with us,” said Guardiola. “He’s a different striker than what we have in terms of his physicality. We see in the training sessions how good a finisher he is. He’s still working but we are delighted for his performance. He played really well.”

Delap, who was signed from Derby in 2019, only found out he was in the team on the morning of the game but took just 18 minutes to open his account with a superb finish after a through ball from Phil Foden, who went on to score the winner in the 75th minute.

“I was buzzing to get the call up and to top it with a goal, I can’t ask much more,” said Delap. “I just want to keep working hard in training and I’ll take every chance I get.

“I’ll probably be smiling for a couple of weeks.”

As well as Delap, United States international goalkeeper Zack Steffen was also handed his City debut after spending a season on loan at Fortuna Dusseldorf. Steffen had little to do as Bournemouth only managed one shot on target but he still did enough to impress his manager.

“He made one good action from a counter-attack and he was calm and safe,” said Guardiola. “He made a good performance.”

Liverpool will face Arsenal in the pick of the ties in next week’s Carabao Cup fourth round.

The Reds will welcome the Gunners to Anfield twice in the space of a matter of days after they face them in the Premier League next Monday.

Jurgen Klopp’s side strolled into the last-16 with a commanding 7-2 win over League One side Lincoln City at Sincil Bank, where Xherdan Shaqiri opened the scoring with a stunning free-kick after nine minutes.

Takumi Minamino measured in a fine shot to make it 2-0 shortly afterwards, with local lad Curtis Jones grabbing two more goals to make it 4-0 by half-time.

Japan international Minamino scored his second in the opening seconds of the second half, with Tayo Edun and Lewis Montsma scoring for the Imps either side of a Marko Grujic strike, with Divock Origi scoring the seventh.

Manchester City had to battle somewhat harder to shrug off Bournemouth 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium.

City youngster Liam Delap – son of Stoke City legend Rory – gave the hosts the lead, only for the Championship side to level before the break through Sam Surridge.

Phil Foden then grabbed the winner 15 minutes from time.

Pep Guardiola’s men now face a trip to fellow Premier League outfit Burnley next week.

Elsewhere on Thursday, Aston Villa eased past Championship side Bristol City 3-0 at Ashton Gate thanks to goals from Ollie Watkins, Bertrand Traore and Anwar El-Ghazi.

Dean Smith’s men will host Stoke City in the next round.

The fourth round draw in full:

Liverpool vs Arsenal
Burnley vs Manchester City
Brentford vs Fulham
Everton vs West Ham
Aston Villa vs Stoke City
Leyton Orient/Tottenham Hotspur vs Chelsea
Newport County vs Newcastle United
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Manchester United.

Chelsea have signed Rennes goalkeeper Edouard Mendy on a five-year deal.

The Senegal international, 28, made 25 league appearances for the Ligue 1 side after joining from Reims in 2019.

He completed his medical on Tuesday, with manager Frank Lampard having said he wants to increase competition with club record signing Kepa Arrizabalaga, who cost £71m.

“I’m so excited to be joining Chelsea,” Mendy said. “It’s a dream for me to be a part of this exciting squad.”

Kepa was at fault for Liverpool’s second goal in the 2-0 Premier League defeat by the Reds on Sunday, which was described as “a clear mistake” by Lampard.

The Spanish international was also dropped last season after errors in games.

That included the FA Cup final, when the 25-year-old was replaced by second-choice goalkeeper Willy Caballero, who is 38.

Last season for Rennes, Mendy kept nine clean sheets in 24 Ligue 1 appearances, compared to Kepa’s eight cleans sheets in 33 Premier League appearances.

Mendy’s save percentage was 76.3% and he conceded a goal every 114 minutes. Kepa’s save percentage was 53.5%, conceding a goal every 63 minutes.

However, Kepa’s passing accuracy was 79.7% compared to Mendy’s 70.1%.

Mendy, who has eight international caps, becomes Frank Lampard’s eighth signing of the transfer window.

He follows in the footsteps of former Chelsea keeper Petr Cech, who joined the Blues from Rennes in 2004 and is now the club’s technical and performance advisor.

Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia said: “As soon as Petr Cech and our technical team identified Edouard as the most suitable goalkeeper to complement our existing group, there was only one player we wanted to bring in.

“Edouard arrives following a season of real success with Rennes, he is ambitious for more, and we welcome him to our club.”

A Christian Fuchs own goal and Eddie Nketiah’s poked finish gave Arsenal victory over Leicester City and set up a potential Carabao Cup fourth-round tie against Liverpool.

There was little Fuchs could do as Nicolas Pepe’s angled effort hit him after coming off the post and went in.

Nketiah settled the tie in the closing stages, stabbing in after fine work from substitute Hector Bellerin.

Earlier, City’s James Maddison hit the post on his first start of 2020-21.

Arsenal will play Liverpool in round four if the Premier League champions beat League One Lincoln on Thursday.

Wednesday’s result continued the Gunners’ impressive start to the season, during which they have won the Community Shield on penalties and secured back-to-back Premier League victories.

Manager Mikel Arteta made seven changes but still fielded a strong side, although there was again no place for Mesut Ozil.

The XI did include previously maligned club record signing Pepe, who was solid without being spectacular on Wednesday, but played a key role in the opening goal with a good run and persistence at the end of it.

Bukayo Saka again demonstrated his readiness for regular first-team action, while Nketiah remains a predatory finisher.

He almost scored with a chip that Wes Morgan headed off the line, before he did settle the tie by prodding the ball past Danny Ward from close range.

Kai Havertz’s hat-trick in Chelsea’s Carabao Cup thrashing of Barnsley will be the “first of many great nights” for him, says Blues boss Frank Lampard.

These were the 21-year-old Germany international’s first goals for the club after arriving from Bayer Leverkusen earlier this month for a fee that could reach £71m.

Tammy Abraham put the Blues ahead and had a role in all of Havertz’s goals.

Ross Barkley and Olivier Giroud were also on target as the hosts eased into the fourth round at Stamford Bridge.

“I’m delighted with Kai,” said Lampard.

“It was everything I wanted the night to be for him. Because Kai has had no pre-season and signing for the club took a few days out for him as well.”

Havertz’s hat-trick was the first of his senior club career and he has now been involved in 26 goals in all competitions in 2020, scoring 18 and making eight assists.

Only Robert Lewandowski (35), Lionel Messi (32) and Cristiano Ronaldo (31) have been involved in more goals among players in the top five European leagues.

“Tonight was a great exercise for him to see how we want to work off the ball, for him to be a part of that,” added Lampard.

“He made a great recovery tackle for Ross’ goal, and then to also just have some freedom on the ball and roam in more central areas.

“I thought it was a great combination with Tammy and I was pleased with the way he grew into the game in terms of confidence. It was a great night for Kai, and the first of many for him.”

The Blues will visit either Tottenham or Leyton Orient in the next round.

Spurs’ game against the League Two side was called off on Tuesday after several of the Leyton Orient squad tested positive for coronavirus.

Discussions are ongoing over the implications of not holding the third-round match on Tuesday, with a further update to be provided in due course.