Sevilla expose what Man City miss most without Kevin De Bruyne in 48 seconds

Pep Guardiola was keen to stress that for all the turbulence at Sevilla this summer, they have a winning identity in Europe and shouldn't be underestimated. Last season he declared himself envious of Sevilla's European heritage, before they dropped into the Europa League to win the competition again and book their place in the Super Cup. This was the third time Manchester City faced Sevilla in 11 months, with a different manager in the opposite dugout each time.

Current incumbent Jose Luis Mendilibar used his press conference to moan about key players leaving and the fact that the transfer window remains open for two weeks after the start of the season. Then he told City to stop complaining about injuries because 'football people shouldn't complain too much.' Mendilibar also vowed that Sevilla would be brave, ambitious, and take the game to City.

The sight of Youssef En-Nesyri heading home 48 seconds after the first-half water break, with Sevilla cutting through the City lines with ease from goalkeeper to striker, was justification of Mendilibar's promise, and also Guardiola's warning. Five of City's starters in the Champions League final were missing in Athens - Dias, Stones, Gundogan, Bernardo, De Bruyne - and it showed in the Super Cup. The Blues were disjointed in the first half, cautious in attack, and struggled to win back second balls. De Bruyne's running and reading of the game were sorely missed by City, and Sevilla exposed their weaknesses effectively.

In the first game since Kevin De Bruyne's injury, it was Phil Foden preferred as the number ten over Julian Alvarez - who usually gets the nod. Bernardo Silva was injured, but it's significant that Guardiola opted for Foden after downplaying his chances in