Chelsea and Villarreal face off in the UEFA Super Cup as the European season kicks off on Wednesday night at Windsor Park in Belfast. While serial Europa League winner Unai Emery was up to his old tricks in Europe’s secondary competition Thomas Tuchel led the Blues to Champions League glory last season. Here is our expert guess on Chelsea vs Villarreal prediction, team news and lineup for 2021 UEFA Super Cup.
Team news
Chelsea
For Wednesday’s game, Jorginho, Cesar Azpilicueta, Thiago Silva, Mason Mount, Reece James, and Ben Chilwell are all in the squad. This will be reportedly their first appearance in pre-season after long absences.
Kurt Zouma is still being linked with a move away from Chelsea, but he could be used in the meantime while other center-backs work their way back to full fitness.
Villarreal
Boulaye Dia and Aissa Mandi are Villarreal’s fresh summer signings and they will be hoping to play for Europa League champions
Pau Torres represented Spain in both Euro 2020 and the Olympics, hence he will be absent from Wednesday’s football match.
Samuel Chukwueze sustained a hamstring injury at the end of last season and is unlikely to play.
Dani Parejo suffered a calf injury in preseason and it’s unclear whether he’ll be able to play here, with Manu Morlanes set to fill in.
Due to a COVID-19 scare in the Villarreal camp, Etienne Capoue, Francis Coquelin, Geronimo Rulli, and Vicente Iborra may miss out.
Chelsea vs Villarreal Prediction
In the UEFA Super Cup, Champions League winners Chelsea will face Europa League winner Villarreal. The Yellow Submarines have lost all six of their preseason games, drawing with Leeds and losing to Leicester.
In pre-season games, Chelsea has won two of their three matches, most recently letting a 2-0 lead against Tottenham slip away to draw 2-2.
Having defeated Manchester United and Arsenal last year, Villarreal and Emery have the experience to beat English opponents, but their pre-season form has raised some concerns.
The expected departure of midfield maestro Parejo will be a huge blow to the Yellow Submarine, and we can’t see anything other than another European triumph for Chelsea, even if they are far from full strength.
Lineup
Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Mendy; Azpilicueta, Zouma, Rudiger; Hudson-Odoi, Kovacic, Kante, Alonso; Ziyech, Werner; Havertz
Villarreal possible starting lineup:
Asenjo; Gaspar, Foyth, Albiol, Pedraza; Yeremy, Morlanes, Trigueros, Dia; Moreno, Alcacer
Our Prediction: Chelsea 2-1 Villarreal
