August 30, 2013, Prague (Czech Republic) and September 24, 2020, Budapest (Hungary). Two dates and events that will always remain linked for posterity in the history of football. But, above all, for a club and a player in particular: the Bayern of Munich of Javi Martínez. Two goals from the Spanish footballer, coming off the bench, were decisive for the German team to end up winning both European Super Cups against Chelsea and Seville, respectively. The only two that the Bundesliga giant has.
In the case of the first, it came at the peak of Javi Martínez's career. At just 25 years old, he entered the game in the 56th minute. With 1-2 on the scoreboard, in the 121st of extra time, Estella's natural player scored the 2-2 goal to force the penalty shootout. Outcome? Bayern Munich triumph in the European Super Cup in Prague.
Seven years later, history repeated itself. Again entering as a substitute, and again in extra time, Javi Martínez entered the scene in 99 'to score the 2-1 goal, taking advantage of a rebound in the area, with a header that served to win a new European Super Cup by Bayern, this time beating Sevilla.
Of course, this last time in a curious way. And is that Javi Martínez arrived in Budapest with practically a foot and a half outside the German team, hardly counting for Hans Flick. A situation reminiscent of the one experienced with Pedro in Barcelona in the 2015 European Super Cup, when he also scored the decisive goal to go to Chelsea days later. Yes, also with Sevilla in the center of the target.
After the game: “Saying goodbye like this would be something incredible”
Sevilla, a tough rival: “They have players and a coach for it. Julen is one of the best in the world. The way they play, how strong they are, the confidence they have. They have a block with the two center-backs and Fernando who are practically insurmountable. very difficult opponent and we are happy to have beaten them “.
Farewell?: “It is an unforgettable night. It could be my last game, I don't know. We will have to see what happens in the coming days and weeks. To fire me like this would be something incredible, to give back to all the fans everything, who have been with me for the last nine years To be able to give them that is something exciting, incredible. It has been very nice. “
Her future: “It's a dream to score in any final. Now it's time to celebrate, be with my teammates, who I haven't been able to be there yet. We'll see what happens tomorrow. If I have to go to Hoffenheim on Sunday, I'll go with the same enthusiasm and the same desire I've always been with “.
Athletic: “I do not know”.
Müller: “Sevilla were the difficult opponents we all expected”
Bayern midfielder Thomas Mülle considered that Sevilla had been for his team in the final of the European Super Cup the difficult opponent that everyone expected. “Sevilla was the difficult opponent that we all expected. He went ahead with the penalty and there was a phase in which our lives complicated“Müller admitted in statements to the Sky channel.
The German player added that the Seville had managed formulas to escape the pressure of Bayern but that in the final part of the game his team had managed to print its stamp on the game. Müller had words of praise for his teammate Javi Martínez, author of the winning goal, and said he believed that “thirty years from now he will continue to be a great header“.