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Thomas Muller has become the joint-most decorated player in German history after Bayern's UEFA Super Cup final win over Sevilla.

The annual meeting between the Champions League and Europa League winners took place at the Puskas Arena in Budapest on Thursday night.

Bayern were heavy favourites coming into the match after winning the treble last season, but Sevilla flipped the script on its head when Lucas Ocampos opened the scoring from the penalty spot just 13 minutes in.

Hansi Flick's side pushed for an equaliser thereafter, and were eventually rewarded when Leon Goretzka slotted home after being teed up brilliantly by Robert Lewandowski just after the half-hour mark.

The second half proved to be an equally tense affair, with Lewandowski and Leroy Sane finding the net only to see their efforts chalked off by the referee and Manuel Neuer pulling off a world-class save to keep out Sevilla substitute Youssef En-Nesyri late on.

Extra time was ultimately needed to decide the final destination for the continental prize, with Bayern managing to grab the decisive goal when Javi Martinez sent a looping header into the net with 104 minutes on the clock.

Muller, who has spent his entire career to date on Bayern's books, produced an industrious display upfront to help the Bundesliga champions pick up their fourth major trophy of the year, cementing his place in Germany's hall of fame in the process.

The World Cup winner has picked up a grand total of 26 trophies at club level, which makes him the joint-most successful player in Germany's history alongside former team-mate Bastian Schweinsteiger.

Muller will go onto grab the record outright if Bayern beat Borussia Dortmund in the DFL Supercup final next Wednesday, but they must first turn their attention to a Bundesliga clash against Hoffenheim this weekend.

Flick, who has become only the second German manager to lift the UEFA Super Cup after Jurgen Klopp with Liverpool in 2019, saw his side thrash Schalke 8-0 on the opening weekend of the new domestic season, and another three points will be expected when they take in a trip to Rhein-Neckar-Arena.

Jurgen Klopp says Curtis Jones is "an exceptional talent" and that Liverpool " will have some fun" with the teenage midfielder as he develops his all-round game in the coming years.

The 19-year-old produced a star turn during Liverpool's 7-2 Carabao Cup third-round win over Lincoln City on Thursday, scoring twice as the Premier League champions set up a fourth-round clash with Arsenal next week. 

It was only Jones' 16th appearance for Liverpool's first team but Klopp suggested the midfielder can expect to feature more regularly if he continues to perform at such a high level. 

"I think each game is ideal for Curtis to play in because of the quality he has, the skills he has," Klopp told a media conference. 

"First half, really good. Start of the second half, really good. And then there is still space for improvement, obviously. 

"Both goals were difficult. I think the second goal, the first touch was absolutely exceptional. It was slightly deflected, but that's just exceptional. 

"I think everybody knows my opinion about Curtis. He is an exceptional talent and we will have some fun with him, I'm pretty sure, in the future."

Takumi Minamino also impressed for Liverpool, adding to Xherdan Shaqiri's opener with a sublime effort from outside the area and then claiming his second shortly after the interval. 

While Klopp was pleased with his potency in front of goal, he was also quick to praise the Japan international's relentless energy. 

"I loved Taki's game tonight; it was absolutely outstanding and he was involved in so many situations," Klopp added.

"More and more, I think we all realise where his qualities are. Wherever he will play in the end, he will end up in the centre. If he plays on the left wing or the right wing, he will play in the half-spaces or the centre because that's where he has his real strength. 

"The opponent had to kick off seven times [after Liverpool's goals] and the first guy who chased the opponent again when they received the pass was Taki.

"He set the rhythm for all these pressing and counter-pressing situations, so I really, really liked his game tonight."

Liverpool face Arsenal in the Premier League on Monday before hosting them again at Anfield later in the week, although no firm date for their next Carabao Cup outing has been set as of yet.

Ivan Rakitic felt goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was the difference between Bayern Munich and Sevilla in the Super Cup as the Bundesliga champions claimed a 2-1 victory after extra time.

Europa League holders Sevilla led through Lucas Ocampos' penalty in Budapest but were pegged back before half-time through Leon Goretzka's leveller on Thursday.

Sevilla proved obdurate opponents in the second period, though, and substitute Youssef En-Nesyri came close to ending Bayern's 22-game winning run when put through in the 87th minute, only for Neuer to turn his effort behind.

The Germany international made an even better save for the Champions League winners when he flicked a right foot out to divert En-Nesyri's attempt onto the post at the start of extra time, but the Sevilla forward did appear offside.

Bayern substitute Javi Martinez then scored a 104th-minute winner to leave Sevilla midfielder Rakitic lauding the display of Neuer.

"It's disappointing but that's football," the former Barcelona star told Sky Germany.

"We saw tonight how important Neuer is for them. We had two great chances to go ahead but he stopped them. Then we gave away a silly corner and they scored.

"Nevertheless, we can be proud of how we played against the best team in Europe and we feel well prepared for the league season."

Sevilla had been unbeaten since February and certainly performed better than the last La Liga side that faced Bayern, who thrashed Rakitic's old club Barcelona 8-2 in the Champions League quarter-finals.

Julen Lopetegui's men begin their domestic season on Sunday against newly promoted Cadiz in La Liga and Sevilla captain Jesus Navas wants them to quickly put this defeat behind them.

"It was a really even game and in the end it was them who were able to score the winner, but we had our chances," he said.

"We had chances and didn't take them. We need to bounce back and carry on."

Joan Jordan thought Sevilla could take heart from the display, though.

"We should be proud," the midfielder claimed. "We played a great game and we could've won. Little details decide these things and it wasn't our day. We fought until the end to win this trophy for Sevilla."

Hansi Flick thought it was fitting that Javi Martinez was Bayern Munich's unlikely Super Cup hero just a day after he was reported to be re-joining Athletic Bilbao.

Martinez came off the bench in extra time of Thursday's Super Cup against Sevilla in Budapest and five minutes later he headed in the winner in a 2-1 victory that earned Flick's treble-winning side yet more silverware.

It was Martinez's first goal since April 2019 and it may be the last of his eight-year Bayern career as rumours of a return to La Liga outfit Athletic persist.

The 32-year-old is in the final year of his Bayern deal, and reports suggest the Bundesliga and Champions League holders want a transfer fee for the midfielder despite Athletic's wish to bring him back to Spain on a free transfer.

"Javi scored the goal and won us the game. Sometimes football writes these stories – this is a beautiful one," head coach Flick told Sky.

"On Wednesday there were reports that he was in Bilbao, yet tonight he scored the winning goal."

Martinez also came off the bench to score an extra-time goal in Bayern's previous Super Cup triumph seven years earlier, when they beat Chelsea on penalties.

"Congratulations to the team and to Javi Martínez, our Mr Super Cup," Muller told UEFA.com.

"We fought hard and showed as a team that we have that winner's mentality, even when we're not at our best."

This time Bayern triumphed inside 120 minutes, having fallen behind to Lucas Ocampos' penalty before Leon Goretzka levelled prior to half-time.

It may not have been as comprehensive as their season-opening 8-0 win over Schalke in the Bundesliga last week, but Flick was nevertheless pleased with his team's staying power.

"It took the first 15 minutes for us to get into the game," Flick said.

"It was great for me to see the team try to pull through with their mentality – and succeed. In the end, my players went through the pain barrier to win."

Diego Godin has joined Cagliari on a three-year contract after completing a free transfer from Inter.

Godin was officially unveiled at Sardegna Arena on Thursday night, having committed his future to the club through to 2023.

The 34-year-old leaves Inter after just one full season, during which he made 36 appearances for Antonio Conte's side across all competitions, scoring twice.

Godin, who moved to San Siro on a free transfer after leaving Atletico Madrid in the summer of 2019, helped the Nerazzurri finish second in Serie A and reach the Europa League final, forging a formidable partnership in the heart of the defence alongside Milan Skriniar.

He will now be tasked with helping Cagliari break into the top half of the table in the Italian top flight, with the club announcing his arrival via a lengthy statement on their official website.

"Cagliari Calcio are pleased to announce the signing of Diego Godin: the great defender from Uruguay joins Cagliari on a permanent deal until June 30th, 2023," the statement reads.

"Strong leadership qualities, overwhelming charisma: with Godin Cagliari acquires a player of absolute international level, one of the strongest central defenders, outstanding in the air, best known for his ability to tackle and anticipate opposition movements, and for marshalling the defence.

"Sardinia is in his destiny: “el Faraòn”, which continues the long tradition of Uruguayan players of Rossoblù, is married to Sofia, born in Cagliari and daughter of the beloved former midfielder Pepe Herrera.

"Welcome to the family, Diego!"

Godin took to social media to say his final goodbyes to Inter players, staff and supporters, writing on Twitter: “Thank you very much to the entire Nerazzurri family for the affection and respect received during this year.

“It has been an intense and atypical season for the situation we have experienced in the world but despite that I think we have done a good job and we have brought the team back to the top, fighting for important goals as it deserves.

“I carry the memory of all of you fans, who are truly the ones who make this club great. And of course with my teammates and all the people who work alongside the team day after day and who have always treated me with a smile! A hug and I wish you the best.”

The Uruguay international could be in line to make his debut for Cagliari when they play host to Lazio on Saturday.

Eusebio Di Francesco's side opened their latest Serie A campaign with a 1-1 draw away at Sassuolo last weekend, and will be aiming to produce an improved display against the Biancocelesti at Sardegna Arena.

Tottenham Women aren’t sure exactly how long Alex Morgan will be at the club, but co-manager Juan Amoros says Spurs are "over the moon" to have her.

The U.S. national team star has arrived at Spurs on a one-year deal but, given the uncertainty surrounding the world at the moment, Amoros suggested this isn’t set in stone.

Nevertheless, he says Tottenham’s players are excited to start working with her – even those whose place in the team could be under threat.

Tottenham play Arsenal on Saturday night in an FA Cup quarter-final, and Morgan could be in line to make her first appearance in English football.

“At the moment the deal is for a season but there are other things in her life and we always prioritise the person,” Amoros said in a press conference.

“She’s recently become a Mum, which has a big impact on her and the family situation is a bit different and also the situation in America. Making long-term plans at the moment, for us, for the club and for everyone, it’s very difficult to know.

“At the moment, she’s here, that’s what really matters. She’s a Spurs Women player and we hope that she has a great time with us and she and scores a lot of goals for us.

“We can’t forget that she only landed last week and she’s been training with us for a week. As with everyone else she can be selected to play because all the paperwork has been done so I think we will have to wait almost until the last minute to know that.”

With two World Cups and an Olympic Gold Medal among the list of honours under her belt, Morgan arrives as one of the game’s biggest stars – and her new team-mates can’t wait to line up alongside her.

“From the moment we announced to the rest of the squad that she was signing, the players were so excited to play with her,” Amoros added.

“You always want to play with the best players in the world so when one of them is actually coming to your team, even the players that play in the same position were extremely excited.

“We've been here for so long and been developing this club for such a long period, that for us to have a period of that calibre – a World Cup winner, an Olympic Gold medallist – a few years back, that was only a dream.

“When we found out that she could be joining us, we were over the moon. It's obviously a no-brainer. When they ask if you want to sign Alex Morgan, obviously the answer is yes.”

Curtis Jones and Takumi Minamino struck braces as a much-changed Liverpool cruised past Lincoln City 7-2 in an entertaining EFL Cup third-round clash on Thursday. 

Jurgen Klopp made 10 changes from the side that beat Chelsea 2-0 in the Premier League on Sunday, with only Virgil van Dijk keeping his place, but they still had more than enough firepower to swat aside their League One opponents. 

Xherdan Shaqiri got the visitors on their way inside the opening 10 minutes, whipping a superb free-kick into the top-right corner, before a fine strike from Minamino and a double from Jones made it 4-0 at the break. 

Minamino added a fifth immediately after the restart before Tayo Edun pulled one back for the Imps on the hour mark.

Marko Grujic and Lewis Montsma then exchanged quick-fire goals, while Divock Origi added a seventh late on as Liverpool – who handed Diogo Jota a debut from the substitutes' bench in the second half – set up a fourth-round clash with Arsenal at Anfield next week. 

Liverpool, who included debutants Rhys Williams and Konstantinos Tsimikas in their starting XI, wasted little time asserting their authority as Shaqiri registered his first goal since December 4 with a sublime free-kick from 22 yards in the ninth minute.

The Reds doubled their advantage after 18 minutes when a sloppy pass out from the back by Montsma found its way to Minamino, who sent a strike into Alex Palmer's top-left corner from 20 yards. 

Jones added a third shortly after the half-hour mark, curling home from inside the penalty area after being picked out by Origi's downwards header. 

The 19-year-old claimed his second just four minutes later when his effort from outside the area clipped off Timothy Eyoma and flew past Palmer.

Any thoughts that Klopp's men would take it easy in the second period were extinguished after just 18 seconds when Minamino volleyed into an empty net after Harvey Elliott had been denied by Palmer.

The Imps started to pour forward in search of a consolation and it duly arrived on the hour mark when Edun coolly slotted past Adrian from inside the area.

Grujic plundered his first Liverpool goal from 20 yards in the 65th minute before Montsma took advantage of Adrian's woeful goalkeeping to head home Lincoln's second just a minute later.

Origi then wrapped up the scoring a minute from time when his strike from 15 yards slipped through the grasp of Palmer. 

What does it mean? Klopp's DNA all over rampant Reds

Liverpool's all-conquering side have earned the moniker of 'mentality monsters' after their exploits over the past two seasons and it is clearly a trait that extends deep into Klopp's squad, with the much-changed Premier League champions refusing to take it easy against their less illustrious opponents.  

They were shaky at the back at times but looked scintillating in attack and, given they had 23 shots on goal, could easily have hit double figures.

Jones potential on full display 

Plenty of Liverpool's second string impressed but it was Jones who shone the brightest. In addition to his two goals, he was a dominant presence in the middle of the pitch, taking the most shots with five and enjoying a 91 per cent success rate with his passing.

Origi's goal papers over poor display 

Given Liverpool's dominance, Origi should have provided much more of a goal threat before his late strike.

His goal came from just his third shot of the game, while his 10 completed passes was comfortably the lowest of any Liverpool player. 

Key Opta Facts

- Since moving to Stoke City in August 2015, over half of Xherdan Shaqiri's 23 goals in English football have come from outside the box (12), with this his first goal directly from a free-kick since May 2018 (Stoke v Crystal Palace).

- Liverpool are the first English top-flight side to score at least four times from outside the box in the same match since Manchester United beat Roma 7-1 back in April 2007 in the Champions League.

- Curtis Jones (19 years and 238 days) became the youngest player to score two or more goals in a game for Liverpool since Raheem Sterling against Norwich City in the Premier League back in April 2014 (19y & 133d).

- Liverpool's Takumi Minamino became the first Japanese player to score two goals in a League Cup game since Shinj Okazaki did so for Leicester City against Chelsea in September 2016.

What's next?

Liverpool will bring their big guns back when Arsenal travel to Anfield in the Premier League on Monday – days before their EFL Cup meeting – while Lincoln host Chartlon Athletic in League One a day earlier.

Liam Delap gave Manchester City a tantalising glimpse of their future before the EFL Cup holders were forced to scrap for a 2-1 victory over Bournemouth in round three.

Delap, the 17-year-old son of former Stoke City favourite Rory, has sparked plenty of excitable talk through his explosive performances for City's youth teams and he wasted little time when it came to making an impression on his senior debut.

Pace, power and a dead-eyed finish in the 18th minute had Pep Guardiola celebrating with delight, but the City boss soon had a furrowed brow as Sam Surridge brought the Championship side level.

Flimsy defending and a failure to create regular clear chances saw Guardiola send for the cavalry in Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling, with the winner arriving in fortuitous fashion when Foden scuffed a shot into the turf and in after Riyad Mahrez's drive came back off the post.

Foden was one of three players retained from the City side that beat Wolves 3-1 in their Premier League opener and the England midfielder slipped a cute pass to Mahrez in the 16th minute, Bournemouth goalkeeper Mark Travers saving at his near post.

Foden was the provider again two minutes later, with Delap powering past Jack Simpson and clipping a brilliant left-footed finish into the top corner.

City's other debutant, Zack Steffen, was picking the ball out of his net as Bournemouth found a swift, well-worked equaliser - Surridge firing a low shot across the United States international.

The hosts resumed with renewed purpose, Mahrez going close, but Bournemouth continued to threaten a disjointed defence on the counter-attack.

Surridge twice broke through - a combination of Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Eric Garcia, then a wildly sliding Steffen denying him.

Guardiola had seemingly seen enough and sent on De Bruyne and Sterling in place of holding midfielders Rodri and Tommy Doyle after the hour.

But it was Foden who decisively showed his poaching instincts 15 minutes from time.

Surridge could have sent the tie to penalties but glanced wastefully wide in the 87th minute.

What it means? City stay in contention for four in a row

A Wembley winner in this competition in 2018, 2019 and earlier this year, Guardiola showed he was not ready to loosen his grip on the three-handled trophy when he introduced his star attackers to help a youthful starting line-up that had allowed the game to drift. The sight of De Bruyne prone on the turf in stoppage time - the PFA Player of the Year eventually got up, groggy but fit to continue after a collision with Lewis Cook's elbow - showed the cost the City boss was willing to incur.

Delap passes the audition

Sergio Aguero's knee injury and City being thwarted in their ambitions to sign a certain other Argentina international means there are opportunities to be had in the centre of their attack. Delap has burst onto the scene with considerably hype and the combination of athleticism and supreme technique put forth by his goal suggested it is worth believing. The teenager's physical readiness for men's football was just as eye-catching as he flung himself into seven duels, even though a yellow card for a shuddering second-half hit on Travers was absolutely merited.

Nightmare bow for Bernabe

A playmaker by trade, Adrian Bernabe was granted a full debut having appeared as a substitute in the EFL Cup four times over the past two seasons. The 19-year-old's experience could not have been more contrasting to Delap's as he struggled in the unfamiliar position of left-back. Bernabe managed a team-high four tackles but completed only 30 of his 37 passes and was culpable on Surridge's goal before leaving on a stretcher with a serious-looking injury before half-time.

What's next?

Guardiola's side entertain in-form Leicester City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, while Bournemouth return to Championship action against Norwich, who also dropped down from the Premier League last season.

Anthony Joshua has made the move from boxing to football, at least in the virtual world, after it was confirmed he will appear in FIFA 21.

Joshua will be a playable character in the video game's "Volta" mode – in which players are able to test their skills in a small-sided game with five-a-side rules.

Olympic gold medallist and world heavyweight champion Joshua is being introduced as a "Groundbreaker", alongside Kaka, Eric Cantona, Thierry Henry, Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold, Atletico Madrid youngster Joao Felix and FIFA 21 cover star Kylian Mbappe.

Diplo, a three-time Grammy Award-winning DJ and producer, also features.

Players will be able to pit their wits against the Groundbreakers, while also being able to recruit them into their squads.

The Volta mode will be taking on a new look with Arsenal right-back Hector Bellerin taking on the role of Creative Director.

"Very excited to join the @easportsfifa team as Creative Director for VOLTA," Bellerin wrote on Instagram.

"During lockdown & my holidays I’ve been keeping busy with channeling my creativity into a purposeful direction. Being able to design outfits & kits has been fun and I can’t wait for you all to play in them but also see & share the messaging within them."

FIFA players don't have too much longer to wait for the new game, with FIFA 21 set to be released worldwide on October 9 .

EA Sports has confirmed there won't be a demo version of this year's release beforehand, saying the decision had been made in order "to focus our development team's time on delivering the best full game experience for current & next-gen consoles."

T here will, however, be an Early Access option for players who pre-order the game or have a subscription to EA Play or Origin Access.

Early Access will begin on October 1, but players can only play for a maximum of 10 hours before the full release on October 9.

Ultimate Team players can also get head start on their squads with the Web App , which is predicted to be launched online around Wednesday, September 30.

Players can trade and complete squad-building challenges on the Web App, allowing them to build up a squad before playing any games.

Christian Koffi has moved to Serie C outfit Cesena on loan from Serie A side Fiorentina with the option to buy at the end of the 2020-21 season, Goal can confirm.

The 20-year old Franco-Ivorian joined the youth squad of the Viola from Monaco in the summer of 2018 and has gone on to be a main fixture in the development team.

In his two seasons at the Stadio Comunale Gino Bozzi, Koffi has played 59 times, scoring eight goals and providing nine assists.

In Koffi’s first season, the Fiorentina Under-19s won the Coppa Italia Primavera by defeating Torino Under-19s 3-2 on aggregate with 2-0 and 2-1 victories in the first leg and second leg respectively.

For the 2019-20 season, the young Viola were successful once again in the same competition, this time triumphing over Hellas Verona Under-19s 1-0. Koffi provided three assists in the run-up to the final against Genoa Under-19s and Juventus Under-19s in the round of 16 and semi-finals.

Fiorentina Under-19s were however not successful in the Supercoppa Primavera, losing 2-1 to Atlanta Under-19s.

Koffi is yet to make a senior appearance for the Fiorentina first team but was among the substitutes in a 1-0 Serie A home loss by AC Milan on May 11, 2019.

His move to Cesena is thus his first exposure to first-team football in his career. Goal understands Championship clubs in Bristol City and Norwich City were interested in securing his services, but he was keen to get regular playing time which he hopes to find at the Stadio Dino Manuzzi.

Koffi narrated previous encounters he’s had with France veteran Franck Ribery who joined Fiorentina last summer after his 12-year association with Bayern Munich.

“I’ve had the chance to talk to him,” Koffi previously told Get Italian Football News. “There was a bit of apprehension because he’s such a great player who’s done a lot for the sport, so I had doubts. But he’s actually nice and very welcoming.

“He speaks very often with young players, he gives us a lot of advice. I only have good things to say about him because he’s not only a great player but also a great person.”

Steven Gerrard's Rangers thrashed Eredivisie side Willem II 4-0 to set up a Europa League qualifying play-off with Turkish giants Galatasaray.

James Tavernier's 50th goal for the club got Rangers up and running early on and the visitors hardly looked back at Koning Willem II Stadion on Thursday.

Tavernier's landmark strike came from the spot, with the defender lifting a fine finish into the net in the 22nd minute.

Ryan Kent won the penalty and the Leeds United-linked winger doubled Rangers' tally three minutes later when he capitalised on Robbin Ruiter's error from Alfredo Morelos' shot.

Kent's brilliant performance continued when his corner teed up Filip Helander to head in a third early in the second half, with Connor Goldson getting in on the act when he turned home Tavernier's cross.

Rangers' reward for their emphatic victory is a home tie against Galatasaray on October 1, with the winner securing their spot in the group stages.

Jose Mourinho has revealed that Tottenham asked for Shkendija's goals to be replaced because they were "5cm too small".

Spurs booked a Europa League play-off clash against Maccabi Haifa next week by beating Shkendija in the third qualifying round in Macedonia on Thursday.

Eric Lamela opened the scoring for Mourinho's side with just five minutes on the clock, but the hosts fought their way back into the game and were eventually rewarded when Valmir Nafiu hit an equaliser shortly before the hour mark.

However, Tottenham regained the lead through a Son Heung-min strike in the 70th minute, before substitute Harry Kane rounded off a 3-1 victory for the north London outfit .

Mourinho saw his side move to within one more game of the Europa League group stages by building on a morale-boosting 5-2 win at Southampton last weekend, but only after being forced to ask Shkendija to provide goals with the correct dimensions.

The Portuguese says the issue was brought to his attention by one his first-team goalkeepers before kick-off, as he told a post-match press conference: "Before the game was a funny situation because my goalkeeper told me the goal was small.

"I went to see and it was small. The goalkeepers spend all their time in them so we know.

"I felt immediately something was wrong and we got the UEFA delegate to come in and it was 5cm too small. We asked for goals of the right dimensions."

Mourinho added on Spurs' latest European performance: "We didn't play magnificently but we did the job.

"In the first half we were 41 minutes without scoring and then we gave them space to play. In the second half, after our changes, and I like to see players come in and make an impact and the players who came on made a difference.

"We started very strongly and the thought was that we would kill the game but we didn't. They gave us a difficult match and the fear we felt after the equaliser was fundamental to the team's reaction and then it was difficult for them to contain our attacking waves."

The Lilywhites will now look ahead to a Premier League meeting with Newcastle on Sunday, which comes just four days before they welcome Maccabi Haifa to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Mourinho will then start preparing his men for a crucial clash against Manchester United at Old Trafford on October 4, with the fixture list continuing to pile up amid the ongoing scheduling issues caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Javi Martinez was Bayern Munich's unlikely hero as the Spaniard came off the bench to head in an extra-time winner in the 2-1 Super Cup victory over Sevilla.

Hansi Flick's treble-winning outfit struggled against a stubborn Sevilla side who had been unbeaten since February – a run that included a record sixth triumph in the Europa League, formerly the UEFA Cup – and the LaLiga side went ahead through Lucas Ocampos' penalty.

Leon Goretzka levelled before half-time but Bayern's run of 22 successive victories would have come to an end had Youssef En-Nesyri not been thwarted by Manuel Neuer in the dying stages of normal time.

But it was fellow substitute Martinez, linked with a return to Athletic Bilbao after eight years in Bavaria, who scored his first goal since April 2019 to earn Bayern yet more silverware.

Bayern opened their 2020-21 season with an 8-0 rout of Schalke but it was Sevilla who struck first through Ocampos' penalty.

Luuk de Jong's cushioned header reached Ivan Rakitic, and the midfielder – back at the club after re-joining from Barcelona – was barged over by David Alaba, with Ocampos outfoxing Neuer from a no-look spot-kick. 

Robert Lewandowski failed to beat Yassine Bounou from a one-on-one as Bayern responded, but he made up for that before half-time, laying the ball back for Goretzka to pick his spot and score the equaliser.

The Champions League winners thought they had the lead within six minutes of the restart after Muller teed up Lewandowski, having initially been presented with the chance himself by the Pole, but VAR spotted Bayern's number nine was offside when first collecting Leroy Sane's pass.

It was one-way traffic thereafter as Bounou denied Serge Gnabry and Diego Carlos blocked the rebound from Sane, who had a goal disallowed himself after Lewandowski was adjudged to have fouled Sergio Escudero in the build-up.

But it was Sevilla who should have won the game in normal time when Jesus Navas released En-Nesyri on a counter-attack, only for Neuer to make the save from an attempt that was too easy to anticipate.

Sevilla had renewed optimism at the start of the additional period, though En-Nesyri looked offside when he aimed an effort at goal that Neuer's right foot diverted onto a post.

And Martinez made him pay five minutes after coming on when he directed a header past Bounou after the goalkeeper could only push Alaba's effort back in front of him.

It's no secret that Everton still have a long way to go before they meet the European standards of their crosstown rivals Liverpool, who lifted their sixth Champions League trophy in 2019 after beating Tottenham in the final.

Here's what you need to know about when the Blues last qualified for the Champions League.

When was the last time Everton qualified for the Champions League?

Everton last qualified for the Champions League in 2005 under David Moyes, for the 2005-06 edition of the competition.

The Blues finished in fourth place in the Premier League – above Liverpool – which awarded them the right to enter the Champions League in the third qualifying round.

They were handed La Liga side Villarreal as opponents in the Champions League qualification round, but failed to beat them - losing 4-2 on aggregate and unable to progress to the next round.

The Blues lost both legs 2-1, with Luciano Figueroa and Josico netting for the Spanish side at Goodison Park.

Juan Pablo Sorin opened the scoring during the second leg at Estadio El Madrigal, and though Mikel Arteta equalised for the Toffees early in the second half, a Diego Forlan winner in stoppage time ensured that Villarreal progressed to the next stage.

The match is also known for the infamous refereeing decisions made by referee Pierluigi Collina, who had ruled out a potential goal scored by Duncan Ferguson.

Ferguson headed the ball into the net, but his celebrations were halted with Collina blowing his whistle to signify a foul. Ferguson protested against the decision, but Collina responded by mockingly putting his hand to his ear as if to say he couldn't understand what he was saying.

Collina later justified his decision by declaring that he had blown his whistle for a shirt pull by Marcus Bent, but later replays showed that it was actually his own shirt that was being pulled.

Collina announced his retirement from refereeing days after the Villarreal match.

Villarreal went on to beat Manchester United and Rangers, and were only eliminated by Arsenal in the semi-finals.

When was the last time Everton qualified for the Europa League?

Everton last qualified for the Europa League in 2017 under Ronald Koeman, their seventh-placed Premier League finish earning them a spot in the Europa League third qualifying round.

They failed to progress past the group stages, finishing third in Group E below Atalanta and Lyon.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has revealed why he turned down a number of "good opportunities" to extend his stay at Arsenal.

Speculation surrounding Aubameyang's future at Arsenal was raging as he entered the final year of his contract earlier this summer, amid rumours of interest from some of the biggest clubs in Europe, including La Liga giants Barcelona and Serie A side Inter.

The Gunners seemed to be getting nowhere with negotiations over an extension, and the 31-year-old refused to be drawn on transfer rumours following his star turn in the FA Cup final victory over Chelsea on August 1.

However, the prayers of fans across the red half of north London were answered when Aubameyang signed a new deal on September 15, which will keep him at Emirates Stadium until at least 2023.

The Gabon international has now explained his decision to remain on Arsenal's books, crediting head coach Mikel Arteta and the club's supporters for helping him make up his mind.

"Two things persuaded me to stay," Aubameyang told Sky Sports ahead of a Monday night clash with reigning Premier League champions Liverpool. "The first thing was Mikel Arteta, because since he came in he brings a lot of positivity and a new philosophy for us.

"I think that was important because it matched my game and I feel that I can improve with him. I think this was the key factor and as well, the love that I receive from the fans and the whole club.

"Everyone is treating me very, very good, so I feel at home and that's why I'm staying.

"We had a chat during lockdown and we were supposed to talk about a game and he said 'okay, forget about it, we're going to talk about the future' and he asked me what I wanted to do.

"I was like 'I feel good since you came, I'm improving, and the philosophy is very, very nice so I just want to stay' and he was like 'I'm sure if you stay you can leave a legacy, but it's all about you and what you want.

"Of course, you can leave and go for trophies in big clubs as well but I think you can create a legacy here in this great club.'

"This was the key message to me and after that conversation, I was like 'okay, it's all clear for me and I just want to stay' and that's it."

The experienced centre-forward, who has hit 71 goals in 112 appearances for the Gunners since his switch from Borussia Dortmund in January 2018, says that although he considered leaving the Emirates at one stage, his emotional ties to the club ultimately proved too strong for him to walk away.

"I was thinking about it to tell you the truth because I had good opportunities as well," Aubameyang added.

"But this feeling to be here - the love from the fans and all the club - I'm not sure that by leaving I will receive the same love, so that's why I'm staying.

"I'm really proud to be the captain but it's not the biggest factor to stay. Of course, it's a great job to do but it was not a part of me staying here."

Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers has expressed his satisfaction by the performance of Ghana defender Daniel Amartey in his return to competitive action for the first time in two years.

After suffering an ankle injury while in Premier League action against West Ham United in October 2018, the 25-year-old marked his comeback with 90 minutes of action in what ended in a 2-0 defeat to Arsenal in the League Cup on Wednesday. 

“I thought that our approach to the game, the attitude and energy in the team was very good. We pressed the ball really, really well," Rodgers said, as reported by his club's official website. 

“A lot of these players are getting [their] first minutes of the season. Daniel Amartey [is] playing his first game in nearly two years.

"If you’re going to lose the game, you want to lose it with that mentality and the attitude, and I think the players gave us absolutely everything.

“We just probably ran out of legs a little bit towards the end and that obviously affected our quality in the final third.

“You never want to lose a game, but if you do and you have that attitude and energy then it always bodes well going forward.”

Earlier this month, Amartey took a giant step on his road to full fitness with 45 minutes of action for Leicester in a 1-1 pre-season draw with Blackburn Rovers, scoring his side's goal.

Wednesday's game was his second senior game in all for The Foxes in two years. 

“We’re disappointed with the goals, that was our only criticism, but we had lots of positives. Daniel Amartey with his first game in two years, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Luke Thomas did well too," Rodgers said.

“Amartey has consistently trained and his mentality is first class. He’s a very honest guy, his defensive qualities are strong and how he lasted the game was very good.”

In May, Amartey's Ghanaian representative Yussif Alhassan Chibsah revealed the player was on his way out of the club due to a lack of first-team opportunities at King Power Stadium. 

He signed for Leicester from Danish outfit FC Copenhagen in 2016 and helped the English side win the Premier League five months later. 

Former Namibia international Robert Nauseb says the future and progress of striker Peter Shalulile depends on how Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane uses him at Chloorkop.

The retired defender explains the former Highlands Park hitman has proven his worth in the South African Premier Soccer League (PSL), saying he will provide more options for the Brazilians as he can also play as a winger.

Shalulile recently joined the reigning treble winners after the Lions of the North were sold to TS Galaxy and will compete with the likes of Themba Zwane, Sibusiso Vilakazi, Alli Meza as well as Lebogang Maboe for a spot in the frontline.

“Shalulile has shown his worth that he is a lethal striker. I am confident that Pitso knows why he signed him and he knows how he will use him,” Nauseb told Isolezwe.

“Shalulile’s future and progress are in Pitso’s hands to ensure his future doesn’t falter, to remain bright.

“I trust that he will play at Sundowns because he’s a complete player and the only outright striker in Sundowns squad for now.

“I heard that Kermit Erasmus will also join Sundowns. He is the only striker who will compete with Shalulile upfront. What’s good about Peter is that he can also play as a winger.

“In that way, he will give Pitso more options on how to use him. On top of that, Sundowns will play different competitions next season.”

Meanwhile, the former Amakhosi star also raised concerns regarding the competition in Tshwane especially when it comes to the happiness of the players.

“However, my concern is on how Pitso will ensure that all of his players are happy. The youngsters will also want to play and if they don’t play, they will not be happy,” he added.

“The competition for the jersey will be tight because only 11 players will have to enter the field of play.”

With the Brave Warriors international having completed the 2019/20 PSL season with 16 league goals next to his name, the 26-year-old will look to continue with his goalscoring exploits for the former African champions.

Bayern Munich defender Jerome Boateng has explained the story behind his striking new purple hairdo.

The Germany defender, never afraid to make a fashion statement, raised some eyebrows with his new look when treble-winning Bayern returned from their short break for the 2020-21 season.

Now, the Bavarians are looking to defend their Bundesliga, Champions League and DFB-Pokal crowns, and in Boateng’s bright purple hair, they have a reminder of their biggest triumph.

“It was a bet before we went to Portugal,” Boateng told Bayern’s website.

“A friend was sure we would win the Champions League, so bet me to dye my hair purple if we won. If we didn’t, he’d do it. I was so surprised and immediately agreed to it.

“I can live with having my hair this colour when it’s for such a good reason.”

Boateng bounced back from a difficult start to the 2019-20 season to regain his place in the Bayern side under Hansi Flick, winning his second European treble after achieving the feat in 2012-13.

He says he and his team-mates know they now have a target on their backs, but defending their crowns is a challenge he appears to relish.

“We want to attack again and defend our titles. When you’ve won everything, the toughest thing is to repeat it.

“Every team wants to beat us. We probably have to step it up a notch, be even better. That has to be the goal. Teams in Europe and Germany aren’t sitting back.”

Bayern can win their first piece of silverware of the 2020-21 season on Thursday night, as they take on Europa League winners Sevilla in the UEFA Super Cup.

“They’re an awkward opponent,” Boateng said. “There’s a reason they’ve won the Europa League, and the UEFA Cup before that, a number of times in recent years.

“Sevilla have a lot of quality in their team. As with every opponent, we have a lot of respect but also know about our own strengths. We want to play well and win the title.

“We’re in good shape and can go more than 90 minutes. It’ll be an exciting game and we’ll try to settle it in normal time. But you never know what’ll happen in football.

“The important thing is to play well in the end, perform to our level and fulfil our requirement to ourselves. Then we’ve got a good chance.”