The Bayern-Chelsea duel that was supposed to become a classic

The UEFA Super Cup of 2013 was supposed to be a secondary competition on the European stage, but on the night of August 30 in Prague it turned into one of the most dramatic matches of the decade.

In the Eden Arena, with 17,686 fans filling every seat, Bayern Munich and Chelsea met again just fifteen months after the famous “Finale Dahoam,” when Chelsea had broken Bavarian hearts by winning the Champions League final in Munich. For Bayern it was more than just a trophy on the line; it was revenge, redemption, and the chance to finally add the one European title missing from their cabinet.

The match carried a personal rivalry as well. Pep Guardiola, only a few weeks into his reign as Bayern coach, and José Mourinho, freshly returned to Chelsea, found themselves facing each other again after countless battles in Spain. Their contrasting philosophies defined the contest before a ball had even been kicked: Guardiola’s obsession with beauty and perfection against Mourinho’s pragmatism and iron discipline. This was no minor affair for either of them, even if the wider public saw the Super Cup as little more than a curtain-raiser.

The game began with surprises in both lineups. Bayern were without Bastian Schweinsteiger and Thiago, while Philipp Lahm was pushed into midfield and Mario Götze was left on the bench. Chelsea also left John Terry out of the starting eleven, giving André Schürrle the chance to start. That decision paid off almost immediately. In the eighth minute, Schürrle burst down the flank and squared the ball perfectly for Fernando Torres, who smashed it into the net to give Chelsea a 1-0 lead. The Spaniard’s celebration was a reminder that he still had the ability to shine on the biggest occasions.

Bayern responded by dominating possession, patiently moving the ball around as they tried to find a way past Chelsea’s organised defensive wall. Mourinho’s men were content to sit deep, absorb pressure, and strike on the counter, a scenario that could have been scripted years earlier when these coaches were still in Spain. Chances were limited, and the Bavarians began to grow frustrated until early in the second half Franck Ribéry, newly crowned European Footballer of the Year, produced a moment of brilliance. From distance, the Frenchman unleashed a powerful shot that swerved into Petr Čech’s left corner. The Czech goalkeeper, just as he had in Munich the year before against Schweinsteiger, managed to get fingertips on the ball, but this time he could not prevent it from going in. Bayern were level, and the match was alive.

From that point the intensity increased with every passing minute. Bayern pushed forward relentlessly, but Chelsea remained dangerous, especially from set pieces. Ivanović hit the crossbar with a header and Neuer had to make a stunning save from David Luiz. Guardiola introduced Götze and Javi Martínez, while Mourinho’s side resorted to more physical play to break Bayern’s rhythm. The turning point came in the 85th minute when Ramires, already booked, lunged recklessly into Götze. The Brazilian was shown a second yellow card and Chelsea were reduced to ten men. Bayern, with numerical superiority, surged forward in search of a winner before the final whistle, but Čech stood tall and regular time ended 1-1.

Extra time began with another twist. Despite being a man down, Chelsea retook the lead when Eden Hazard collected the ball on the left, cut inside past Jérôme Boateng, and drove a low shot past Neuer. The goal was a masterpiece of individual skill and seemed to set Chelsea on course for victory. Yet what followed was one of the most relentless barrages ever seen in a Super Cup match. Bayern poured forward in waves, attacking with desperation and determination. Ribéry tried from distance again, Mandžukić was denied at point-blank range, and Martínez was kept out by the brilliance of Čech, who was producing one of the finest performances of his career. The goalkeeper even clawed away a Ribéry free kick destined for the top corner, leaving Bayern on the verge of despair.

As the match ticked into the final moments of extra time, Chelsea still held their 2-1 advantage. Mourinho was on the touchline urging his players to hang on, Guardiola was frantic in his technical area, and the Bavarian fans were desperate for one last chance. In the 120th minute, they got it. Čech made another save but the ball broke loose inside the box and Javi Martínez, despite carrying an injury, reacted quickest to smash it into the net. The stadium erupted. Bayern had equalised at the very last possible moment, dragging the match to penalties in a dramatic repeat of the 2012 final.

The shootout was tense, each side converting their kicks with composure. The ghosts of Munich 2012 hung over the Bavarians, but this time there would be no heartbreak. At 5-4, Romelu Lukaku stepped up for Chelsea needing to score. Neuer read his shot, dived the right way, and saved. Bayern had done it. Players rushed to Neuer in celebration, Guardiola clenched his fists in relief, and Bayern finally lifted the Super Cup for the first time in their history.

That night in Prague turned what was considered a secondary competition into a classic. It had everything: tactical battles, early goals, late drama, a red card, extra-time brilliance, a last-minute equaliser, and the tension of a penalty shootout. For Bayern, it was sweet revenge and a symbolic beginning for Guardiola’s era. For Chelsea, it was bitter frustration, having come within seconds of victory only to be denied. A decade later, the 2013 Super Cup is remembered not as “only” a minor trophy but as one of the greatest matches in European football of its time.