19 August 2007 - Sevilla Delivers A Severe Beating

On 19 August 2007, Sevilla won their first Supercopa de España, destroying Real Madrid at the Bernabéu to win 6-3 on aggregate. 

Sevilla, the 2007 Copa del Rey and UEFA Cup winners, hosted the first leg on 11 August and scraped out a 1-0 victory thanks to a 27th-minute penalty kick from striker Luís Fabiano. The second leg was hosted by Real Madrid, the 2007 La Liga champions. 

A crowd of 69,000 turned out at the Bernebéu and were stunned to see Sevilla increase their aggregate lead in the 16th minute when a scramble in front of the Madrid goal allowed forward Renato to knock the ball home. But just seven minutes later, Madrid midfielder Royston Drenthe beat Sevilla keeper Andrés Palop with a rocket from over 35 yards out. 

In the 37th minute, a Madrid handball led to another Sevilla penalty, converted by striker Frédéric Kanouté, who had missed the first leg. Madrid surged back to take a 2-3 lead on the day with goals from Fabio Cannavaro (44') and Sergio Ramos (78'). The 3-3 aggregate score would have seen them take the cup on the away goals rule, but Sevilla pulled away with three late strikes from Kanouté (80', 89') and Renato (88') to claim the victory. 

Real Madrid eventually sorted out their defensive woes, giving up the fewest goals in the league en route to the 2007-09 La Liga title, while Sevilla finished fifth that season.

24 August 2002 - As Consolation Prizes Go, It's Not Bad

On 24 August 2002, West Ham drew with Arsenal at Upton Park, ending the Gunners' bid to set a new English record winning streak. Instead, Arsenal had to settle for a top-flight record.

The match was the second of the season for both teams, but Arsenal had enjoyed a strong finish to the previous season, winning their last 13 league matches to run away with the Premier League title. They also won their season opener in 2002, at home against Birmingham City, to match a 14-game winning streak set by Manchester United in 1905 and repeated by Bristol City in 1906 and Preston North End in 1951.

Each of those earlier streaks, however, occurred in the Second Division, so Arsenal had already taken the top-flight record for their own. They hoped to extend the run, though, and hold the sole record across England. Unfortunately for them, West Ham were standing in the way.

Playing before a crowd of over 35,000 at Upton Park, things looked grim for the visitors as West Ham built a 2-0 lead on goals from Joe Cole (44') and Freddie Kanouté (53'). Arsenal pulled one back with a sensational Thierry Henry strike in the 65th minute, but West Ham appeared ready to restore the margin after the referee awarded them a penalty for an Ashley Cole foul on Joe Cole. Fortunately for the Gunners, keeper David Seaman saved Kanouté's attempt.

In the 88th minute, just as it looked almost certain that Arsenal were going to suffer their first league loss in almost eight months, striker Sylvain Wiltord (pictured, right) delivered a 14-yard shot to draw the Gunners level.

Arsenal finished the season in second with a record of 23 wins, 9 draws, and 6 losses, while West Ham ended in 18th place and were relegated.

19 August 2007 - Sevilla Delivers A Severe Beating

On 19 August 2007, Sevilla won their first Supercopa de España, destroying Real Madrid at the Bernabéu to win 6-3 on aggregate.

Sevilla, the 2007 Copa del Rey and UEFA Cup winners, hosted the first leg on 11 August and scraped out a 1-0 victory thanks to a 27th-minute penalty kick from striker Luís Fabiano. The second leg was hosted by Real Madrid, the 2007 La Liga champions.

A crowd of 69,000 turned out at the Bernebéu and were stunned to see Sevilla increase their aggregate lead in the 16th minute when a scramble in front of the Madrid goal allowed forward Renato to knock the ball home. But just seven minutes later, Madrid midfielder Royston Drenthe beat Sevilla keeper Andrés Palop with a rocket from over 35 yards out.

In the 37th minute, a Madrid handball led to another Sevilla penalty, converted by striker Frédéric Kanouté, who had missed the first leg. Madrid surged back to take a 2-3 lead on the day with goals from Fabio Cannavaro (44') and Sergio Ramos (78'). The 3-3 aggregate score would have seen them take the cup on the away goals rule, but Sevilla pulled away with three late strikes from Kanouté (80', 89') and Renato (88') to claim the victory.

Real Madrid eventually sorted out their defensive woes, giving up the fewest goals in the league en route to the 2007-09 La Liga title, while Sevilla finished fifth that season.