Under way at the home of Olympiakos.

A minute's silence for a fan who was stabbed to death in Athens last week before a Champions League qualifier.

The players are out and it's almost time.

Neil Lennon
Former Celtic manager on BBC Radio 5 Live

Guardiola isn't taking anything for granted. This is a European trophy that's worth taking seriously.

What a momentous season they had last year.

The challenge is that everyone wants to beat them this year.

It's been over 30C in Athens for most of the day. No thanks.

Erling Haaland has netted a double in all three of his games against Sevilla, including one with City in last season's Champions League.

Sevilla have lost four of their last seven meetings with English sides in all European competition, but beat Manchester United 3-0 in the Europa League quarter-final last season.

Nine of the last 10 Uefa Super Cup matches have been won by the previous season's Champions League winners, with the exception being Atletico Madrid's 4-2 win over Real Madrid in 2018.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola talking to TNT Sports: "Europe is Europe. Sometimes this chance is a once in a lifetime.

"Sevilla have a special character for the finals. We need everyone to step up in the absence of Kevin de Bruyne."

Don Hutchison
Ex-Scotland midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

For the first time I think Manchester City are coming back towards the chasing pack in the Premier League, having lost Mahrez and Gundogan.

De Bruyne looks like he's out for four months.

The squad, and I say this loosely, for Manchester City looks a little bit light. I wouldn't be surprised if they sign someone to fill in for De Bruyne.

Manchester City and Sevilla met twice in last year's Champions League group stages, with City winning 4-0 in Spain and 3-1 at home.

City have won all four of their previous meetings (all in the Champions League) by an aggregate score of 12-3.

Neil Lennon
Former Celtic manager on BBC Radio 5 Live

I'm not sure Gvardiol can step into midfield like Stones but he's a fantastic player and we saw that at the World Cup with Croatia.

Image source, PA Media

Sevilla manager Jose Luis Mendilibar: "We're looking forward to playing them.

"I think we are ready to beat them, so I'm convinced that we are going to be audacious. That doesn't mean that we're going to win, of course - but we are going to be brave.

"We’re going to try to play our football and, in that respect, I think we're going to try to complicate their lives. From then on, we'll see what happens.

"I'm sure there's statistics about Arsenal and City and Guardiola that were in favour of City, but they lost against Arsenal not too long ago [in the Community Shield]."

Julian Barnes: I can see a Man City win, maybe 2-0. A few yellow cards though.

Image source, .

Manchester City have accepted an undisclosed offer from Al-Nassr for Spain defender Aymeric Laporte.

Laporte was City's record signing in January 2018 when he joined from Athletic Bilbao for £57m.

The 29-year-old made 43 starts during 2021-22 but coach Pep Guardiola used Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake more often during City's Treble-winning season.

City then spent £77m to bring in another left-sided defender this summer in Croatia's Josko Gvardiol, 21.

Laporte is on the bench today in what could prove to be his farewell.

Sevilla are Uefa Super Cup regulars since they win the Europa League so often, but... they lose most of them.

They have been runners up more often than any other side, five (2007, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2020), having won their first one in 2006.

This is only the sixth time a team have played in these seven competitions in a season - Community Shield, Uefa Super Cup, Club World Cup, Champions League Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup - including under different names or their country's equivalents.

Liverpool did it in 1984-85 and 2019-20 and Manchester United did it in 1999-2000 and 2008-09. Chelsea played in eight in 2012-12 after dropping into the Europa League from the Champions League.

Of those, the best trophy haul was Manchester United's four of Premier League, League Cup, Community Shield and Club World Cup in 2008-09.

No teams from other countries have really had the chance because most don't have a league cup and some don't have a Community Shield-style game.

City's Pep Guardiola has won the Uefa Super Cup all three times he has managed in it, doing so with Barcelona in 2009 and 2011, and with Bayern Munich in 2013.

Image source, .

Rodri says Manchester City have a hunger to win every trophy as they prepare to face Spanish side Sevilla in the Uefa Super Cup in Athens.

Treble winners City were beaten by Arsenal in the Community Shield but have another chance to lift their first trophy of the season on Wednesday.

"We have to arrive with desire like we did our last finals," said Spain midfielder Rodri.

"In the last finals we showed the level of hunger.

"We are always hungry and want to win every trophy. We were very disappointed when we lost to Arsenal.

"This year we can break some records.

"For us it is not so important but it is in our heads. Winning four leagues in a row would be massive.

"Every final, every title is important. The Super Cup is important to me because it is the first trophy I won as a player. We have another chance to put City on the European map again."

Manchester City are competing in the Super Cup for the first time.

An English side have won the trophy the last two times they have been in it, with Liverpool beating Chelsea in 2019, and Chelsea beating Villarreal in 2021 - both on penalties.