Another first - Villarreal to win Super Cup
Windsor Park in Belfast will play host to the 2021 UEFA Super Cup clash between second-time Champions League winners Chelsea and maiden Europa League victors Villarreal. Indeed, the latter trophy was the Yellow Submarines' very first in continental competition, and though they have not been in the best of form during pre-season, friendlies are rarely, if ever, an indication of how a team will perform when the outcome matters. Read our preview here:
Everywhere I Rom
All of the current discussion at Stamford Bridge is the impending return of Belgian hitman Romelu Lukaku from Internaziole (via Manchester United). The prolific goalscorer has developed into one of the most complete strikers during his two years in Serie A, and will a massive asset in more ways than one to head coach Thomas Tuchel once everything is confirmed. For the time being, his 'absence' hints at the problems in the squad - namely, someone to reliably put the ball in the net. Both Timo Werner and Kai Havertz have managed it in fits and bursts, and have very different profiles to each other and Lukaku. Werner is likely to be the furthest forward on Wednesday night, and with six players given extended breaks following various international exploits this summer, the back five will look very different to the unit that most pundits anticipate starting the vast majority of games.
Crème Boulaye
Unai Emery will have to contend with a similar number of first team absentees for their crack at temporary European supremacy; centre back Pau Torres will only just have returned from the Olympics where Spain's men lost in the final to Brazil after extra-time; Algerian Aïssa Mandi is likely to deputise. Elsewhere, the same 4-4-2 system will still be employed, and could sport a new partner for Gerard Moreno. Senegalese forward Boulaye Dia, signed from Ligue 1 outfit Reims, scored 14 times in the top French tier during 2020/2021, and the versatile playstyle and varied method of shot selection he brings will help ensure a degree of subtlety in what can often appear a rigid formation. If he starts, he will likely start wide, and drift inside from the right half-space to get between Antonio Rüdiger and the wantaway Kurt Zouma.
Yellow fellows
The pressure will be on Chelsea to go much closer to wrestling the Premier League from Manchester City's grasp, and to do that, they need to hit the ground running from the first whistle. Therefore, the Super Cup is in many ways an unwanted distraction on the eve of another season where some players, not just for the Blues, have barely had a break of any kind. Winning the trophy would mean a lot more to Villarreal and their supporters, and they are priced at 3.20 by bet365 to lift it.
