Super Cup team news and prediction: Bayern Munich vs Sevilla

Last season's winners of the Champions League, Bayern Munich, will take on the 2019/20 Europa League champions, Sevilla, in the UFA Super Cup on Thursday night.

Bayern are bidding to become the first German side to win the Super Cup since they last managed the feat in 2013, while Sevilla last lifted the trophy in 2006. Remarkably, a Spanish side has won the Super Cup in nine of the last 11 seasons.

Thursday's encounter between the two sides is their first meeting since the 2017/18 Champions League campaign when Bayern ran out 2-1 winners on aggregate in the quarter-finals despite being held to a 0-0 draw on home soil. 

In the build up to the 2020/21 Super Cup, we have all your need-to-know matchday information, including where the match is taking place, where you can watch it in England, in addition to team news and probable XIs.

When is kick off?
Thursday 24th September, 20:00 GMT
Where is the match?
Puskas Arena, Budapest (Hungary)
Where can I watch it?
BT Sport 1 / BT Sport Ultimate

How they Qualified

Bayern Munich won all 11 of their matches in the Champions League en route to lifting their sixth European Cup. The Bundesliga giants defeated Chelsea, Barcelona and Lyon in the knockout stage to set up a final meeting with Paris Saint-Germain, whom they defeated 1-0.

Sevilla were crowned Europa League champions for the fourth time in seven years after edging Serie A side Inter in a five-goal thriller. Sevilla came from 1-0 down to win 3-2 after overcoming Manchester United in the semi-finals. Sevilla last won the Super Cup in 2003, losing it three years in a row from 2014 to 2016.

Team News

Bayern Munich have an almost full strength squad to pick from aside from Kingsley Coman and summer signing Tanguy Nianzou. Coman is still self-isolating, while Nainzou is injured. David Alaba has travelled after missing their 8-0 win over Schalke last week with a muscle injury, while Javi Martinez is also with the squad despite his imminent departure. The only changes expected from the side that started against Schalke are Alaba in for Jerome Boateng and Alphonso Davies starting in place of Lucas Hernandez.

This is Sevilla's first competitive match since defeating Inter in the Europa League final over a month ago, so it's hard to know what condition their players are in. Nevertheless, there have been sweeping changes at the club. Ever Banega and Sergio Reguilon, arguably their two best players from last season, have left. Ivan Rakitic has returned to the club, while Marcos Acuna has joined from Sporting and Oscar Rodriguez has been signed from Real Madrid. Sevilla have rejected an offer from Manchester City for Jules Kounde and he is expected to start against Bayern.

Probable XIs

Bayern (4231) - Neuer; Pavard, Sule, Alaba, Davies; Kimmich, Goretzka; Sane, Muller, Gnabry; Lewandowski

Seviilla (433) -  Bono; Navas, Kounde, Carlos, Acuna; Jordan, Fernando, Rakitic; Suso, De Jong, Ocampos

Key Battle: David Alaba vs Jules Kounde

Manchester City targets past and present will be on display when Bayern take on Sevilla in the Super Cup in Budapest on Thursday night. David Alaba was considered by Pep Guardiola as the versatile left-sided centre-back option before signing Nathan Ake and City reportedly recently had a huge bid for Jules Kounde turned down in their search for another class centre-back option.

Sevilla's Diego Carlos has also been linked with City but his reputation took a huge hit during their run to winning the Europa League after conceding a penalty in the quarters, last four and final. While Carlos floundered, Kounde excelled and is now on City's radar. The 21-year-old completed 92.9% of his attempted passes during last season's Europa League-winning campaign and showed a cool head throughout despite his young age.

Alaba, meanwhile, is expected back in the starting XI after recovering from a muscle injury that kept him out of last week's astonishing 8-0 win over Schalke in their first league game of the season. Both centre-backs are classy on the ball and will demonstrate that in tonight's final.

Prediction: Bayern 3-1 Sevilla