2023 UEFA Super Cup: Manchester City vs Sevilla Preview, Date, Venue, and More
The 2023 UEFA Super Cup is the annual football match that pits the winners of the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League against each other. It is considered as the official curtain-raiser for the new European club season, and a prestigious trophy to add to the collection of the participating teams.
This year, the UEFA Super Cup will feature Manchester City, the champions of the 2022-23 UEFA Champions League, and Sevilla, the champions of the 2022-23 UEFA Europa League. The match will take place on Wednesday, August 16, 2023, at the Stadio Georgios Karaiskakis in Piraeus, Greece.
Manchester City: The Dominant Force in Europe
Manchester City are the reigning champions of Europe, having won their first ever UEFA Champions League title in 2023. The English club defeated Real Madrid 2-1 in the final at the Parc des Princes in Paris, thanks to goals from Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden. The victory capped off a remarkable season for City, who also won their fifth Premier League title and their fourth consecutive EFL Cup.
Managed by Pep Guardiola, one of the most successful and influential coaches in modern football, Manchester City have established themselves as a dominant force in Europe and beyond. They have a squad full of world-class players, such as Ederson, Ruben Dias, John Stones, Kyle Walker, Joao Cancelo, Rodri, Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva, Raheem Sterling, Riyad Mahrez, Gabriel Jesus, and Sergio Aguero.
Manchester City have also made some notable signings in the summer transfer window of 2023, such as Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund, Jack Grealish from Aston Villa, and Nuno Mendes from Sporting CP. These additions have strengthened their already formidable team and increased their chances of retaining their titles.
Manchester City will be aiming to win their first UEFA Super Cup trophy in 2023. They have never participated in this competition before, as they had never won the UEFA Champions League or its predecessor, the European Cup. They will be hoping to emulate their domestic rivals Liverpool and Manchester United, who have both won the UEFA Super Cup four times.
Sevilla: The Kings of the UEFA Europa League
Sevilla are the undisputed kings of the UEFA Europa League, having won this competition a record six times. The Spanish club clinched their sixth title in 2023, after beating Lazio 3-1 in the final at the Stadion Energa Gdansk in Poland. The goals came from Youssef En-Nesyri (2) and Lucas Ocampos.
Coached by Julen Lopetegui, a former Spain and Real Madrid manager, Sevilla have proven themselves as a formidable and consistent team in Europe and Spain. They have a balanced and experienced squad that includes players such as Bono, Jules Kounde, Diego Carlos, Jesus Navas, Marcos Acuna, Fernando, Ivan Rakitic, Joan Jordan, Suso, Papu Gomez, and Luuk de Jong.
Sevilla have also made some smart moves in the summer transfer window of 2023, such as signing Dani Olmo from RB Leipzig, Maxence Lacroix from Wolfsburg, and Rafa Mir from Wolverhampton Wanderers. These reinforcements have added more quality and depth to their team and enhanced their prospects of challenging for more trophies.
Sevilla will be looking to win their second UEFA Super Cup trophy in 2023. They have participated in this competition six times before, but they have only won it once, in 2006, when they beat Barcelona 3-0 in Monaco. They have lost their other five appearances, in 2007 (to AC Milan), 2014 (to Real Madrid), 2015 (to Barcelona), 2016 (to Real Madrid), and 2020 (to Bayern Munich).
The Venue: Stadio Georgios Karaiskakis
The venue for the 2023 UEFA Super Cup is the Stadio Georgios Karaiskakis, the home stadium of Olympiacos, the most successful club in Greek football history. The stadium is located in Piraeus, a port city that is part of the Athens metropolitan area.
The stadium was originally built in 1895, but it was completely rebuilt for the 2004 Summer Olympics, where it hosted several football matches. It has a capacity of just over 30,000 spectators, and it has hosted concerts by Rihanna, Aerosmith, 50 Cent, and the Sex Pistols among others.
The stadium has also hosted several international matches for Greece, as well as UEFA club competition matches for Olympiacos and other Greek teams. It will be the first time that the stadium will host the UEFA Super Cup, and the second time that a UEFA club competition final will be held in Greece, after the 2006-07 UEFA Champions League final between AC Milan and Liverpool in Athens.
The Referee: François Letexier
The referee for the 2023 UEFA Super Cup will be François Letexier, a French official who has been a FIFA referee since 2017. Letexier has been officiating in the French Ligue 1 since 2016, and he has also taken charge of international games.
Letexier has previously worked as one of the assistant video assistant referees (AVAR) for the 2019 UEFA Super Cup between Liverpool and Chelsea in Istanbul. He will be assisted by fellow Frenchmen Cyril Mugnier and Mehdi Rahmouni as assistant referees, while Espen Eskås of Norway will serve as the fourth official.
When and where is the 2023 UEFA Super Cup?
A: The 2023 UEFA Super Cup will take place on Wednesday, August 16, 2023, at the Stadio Georgios Karaiskakis in Piraeus, Greece. The kick-off time is 21:00 CET.
Who are the teams playing in the 2023 UEFA Super Cup?
A: The teams playing in the 2023 UEFA Super Cup are Manchester City, the winners of the 2022-23 UEFA Champions League, and Sevilla, the winners of the 2022-23 UEFA Europa League.
How can I watch the 2023 UEFA Super Cup?
A: The 2023 UEFA Super Cup will be broadcasted live by various TV channels and streaming platforms around the world. You can check the list of official broadcasters on UEFA’s website.
Who are the favourites to win the 2023 UEFA Super Cup?
A: According to most bookmakers and pundits, Manchester City are the favourites to win the 2023 UEFA Super Cup, as they have a stronger and more expensive squad than Sevilla. However, Sevilla are not to be underestimated, as they have a lot of experience and success in European competitions.
Who are the previous winners of the UEFA Super Cup?
A: The previous winners of the UEFA Super Cup are:
- 2022: Real Madrid (beat Chelsea 2-1)
- 2021: Chelsea (beat Villarreal 6-5 on penalties after a 1-1 draw)
- 2020: Bayern Munich (beat Sevilla 2-1 after extra time)
- 2019: Liverpool (beat Chelsea 5-4 on penalties after a 2-2 draw)
- 2018: Atlético Madrid (beat Real Madrid 4-2 after extra time)
- 2017: Real Madrid (beat Manchester United 2-1)
- 2016: Real Madrid (beat Sevilla 3-2 after extra time)
- 2015: Barcelona (beat Sevilla 5-4 after extra time)
- 2014: Real Madrid (beat Sevilla 2-0)
- 2013: Bayern Munich (beat Chelsea 5-4 on penalties after a 2-2 draw)
