One, two, three, four: quadruple Bayern can’t be beaten any more

Bayern Munich beat Sevilla for the European Super Cup title, their fourth over the past months, and some kitsch involved as well because game-winner Javi Martinez could have played his last match for them

Berlin (dpa) – Javi Martinez came to the rescue like seven years ago in what could have been his last match for Bayern Munich as the Germans continued their winning ways with the European Super Cup title on Thursday night.

Six days after their 8-0 Bundesliga demolition of Schalke they met far more resistance from Sevilla and needed to come from behind before the substitute Martinez clinched their 2-1 extra time win.

That sealed the quadruple for Bayern who are now undefeated in 32 games overall of which they have won the last 23 – winning the Super Cup to the Champions League, Bundesliga and German Cup in the process before the latest heroics.

What made it even sweeter for Bayern was the presence of 15,180 fans in Budapest’s Puskas-Arena, in a test by the ruling body UEFA how to admit fans back amid the coronavirus.

“We can be proud that we have now brought the so-called quadruple home to Munich,” Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said.

“It was a wonderful feeling to celebrate this trophy with our fans in person again. When I looked around the stadium after the game, I saw many happy Bayern fans.”

“I would like to thank UEFA and its President Aleksander Ceferin for the professional organisation of this final. It was an important step back to a normal footballing culture, to emotional rollercoaster and atmosphere inside the stadium.”

The presence of fans was however controversial amid a rising number of Covid-19 cases and the Budapest region declared a risk area by German health authorities.

World Medical Association chairman Frank Ulrich Montgomery strongly criticized the return of fans, telling the Passauer Neue Presse paper that “football seems to be enjoying the privilege of fools” and speaking of a “counterproductive and a wrong signal.”

There was meanwhile nothing foolish about Bayern’s latest demonstration of strength as they rebounded from an early deficit from Lucas Ocampos thanks to Leon Goretzka and Martinez’ header five minutes after coming on.

Seven years ago in the same duel between the Champions League and Europa League winners Martinez had scored with extra time expiring to send Bayern into a penalty shoot-out against Chelsea which they won.

Forward Thomas Mueller named Martinez “our Mr. Super Cup” and the 32-year-old Spaniard said: “I try to give it everything, 100 per cent, whenever I wear the FC Bayern jersey, I showed that today.”

“I’m pretty pleased, it’s a dream come true. It was like in 2013, when I scored too, a beautiful evening.”

The goal was even sweeter as Thursday was likely Martinez’ last game for Bayern as he appears set to return to Athletic Bilbao after eight years in Munich during which he won every title available, and the quadruple twice.

“Farewell gift from Martinez,” said the daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung on Friday, adding that “the evening turned into an almost corny story.”

But Munich also won because goalkeeper Manuel Neuer made two huge saves against Youssef En-Nesyri, and coach Hansi Flick, according to Kicker sports magazine, said that “we’re not really in good shape yet” after just two games following a four-week break.

Flick said that well-organized Sevilla “certainly was a hurdle” but that “in the end the team got over the line.”

Some may hope that Bayern could be beatable for the first time in almost 10 months but Flick appears not too concerned as they move on to prepare for Sunday’s Bundesliga match at Hoffenheim.

“The team has an inspiring attitude, not only on the pitch but also in training,” Flick said.