The winner of the UEFA Champions League Chelsea FC will be trading tackles with the UEFA Europa League title holder Villarreal CF in Belfast tonight. This game usually serves as the curtain raiser of the new continental season in Europe.
Chelsea are the favorite due to the fire power in the hands of manager Thomas Tuchel which many are already saying might be too much for Villarreal to withstand. Although, the Blues have lost their last 3 UEFA Super Cup finals - lost to Atletico Madrid in 2013, Bayern Munich in 2014 and also Liverpool in 2019 - the last time Chelsea won this trophy was in 1998.
The Spanish side led by Unai Emery are the underdogs, however against all hurdles Villarreal beat Arsenal and Manchester United on their way to winning the Europa League trophy last season.
Emery has faced Chelsea in 5 games both in Valencia and Arsenal and has just 1 win. He has also lost all the finals he led Sevilla to play against Champions League winners in the past.
Villarreal have not nothing lose in this game, but if they win it will add to their pedigree as giant killer of European football.
Let's keep our fingers cross to see maybe Chelsea will eventually break this jinx of UEFA Super Cup finals this year.
Fabiyi Ridwan
Sports Writer and Analyst
