In what could have been his last game for Bayern Munich, Javi Martinez scored the winner in extra time as the Champions League holders beat Sevilla 2-1 in the UEFA Super Cup.
The Spaniard has been heavily linked with a return to Athletic Club during this transfer window but still made a telling contribution for his current employees in Hungary on Thursday night.
The game took place in front of 20,000 watching supporters at the Puskas Arena in Budapest as part of a trial by UEFA.
The travelling Sevilla supporters were off their feet when Ivan Rakitic, playing his first competitive match since re-joining the club from Barcelona, forced a penalty in the 10th minute.
David Alaba’s foul allowed Lucas Ocampos to step up and slot the spot-kick into the bottom left-hand corner, deceiving Manuel Neuer with his eyes in the process.
Bayern were almost level midway through the first half, but Thomas Muller was denied a tap-in by the sliding Jules Kounde.
The French defender couldn’t prevent Leon Goretzka from finding the net, however, with the midfielder converting from Robert Lewandowski’s lay-off.
The rest of the evening was largely played out on Sevilla’s half of the pitch, with Lewandowski having two goals disallowed after the break.
Sevilla remained a threat on the counter attack, though, and almost found a winner in the final minutes of normal time when Neuer saved from Youssef En-Nesyri.
At the start of extra time, Neuer’s large frame kept En-Nesyri out again, with his right foot tipping the Moroccan’s shot on to the post.
Bono wasn’t so impressive, though, in the build-up to Bayern’s winning goal, parrying David Alaba’s shot up in the air for substitute Martinez to nod in.
Curiously, Martinez was the man who equalised in the dying moments of extra time to send Bayern’s Super Cup tie with Chelsea to penalties in 2013.
The result brings to an end an excellent run of form from Julen Lopetegui’s side, who had been unbeaten in their previous 21 matches in all competitions.
