Javi MartÃnez is Bayern Munich’s Mr Super Cup.
Seven years after scoring an extra-time goal to help Bayern win its last UEFA Super Cup, MartÃnez netted the winner in the 104th minute on Thursday as the German club beat Sevilla 2-1 in the European curtain raiser in a stadium partially filled with fans.
MartÃnez rose above a crowd of players to head in the rebound when Sevilla goalkeeper Yassine Bounou parried David Alaba’s speculative shot.
Bayern midfielder Thomas Müller hailed MartÃnez as “Mr Super Cup,” recalling the 2013 goal which sent a game against Chelsea to a penalty shootout which Bayern won.
It could be one of MartÃnez’s last games for Bayern after eight years and eight Bundesliga titles. Chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge told German media last month that the versatile defensive player was seeking to leave.
“When I play in a Bayern shirt I want to give everything, 100%, and I showed that today,” MartÃnez told Sky, leaving a question about his future open.
Playing extra time was far from ideal for either team in a season which has started later than normal and will have a more congested calendar amid the coronavirus pandemic. For both Bayern and Sevilla it was the start of a run of four games in 11 days and came barely a month after Bayern beat Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final.
Europa League champion Sevilla took an early lead when David Alaba fouled Ivan Rakitic and Lucas Ocampos converted the 13th-minute penalty. Champions League winner Bayern leveled when Leon Goretzka hammered in a ball expertly cued up for him by Lewandowski in the 34th.
Bayern was largely in control of the second half but saw two goals ruled out — one for offside, one for a shove by Lewandowski — and needed Neuer to save Youssef En-Nesyri’s shot on the counterattack in the 87th minute.