2021 UEFA SUPER CUP

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 

UEFA Europa League Finale

This season Europa League has been full of intriguing and dramatic turns with many shocking results recorded throughout the season.

Football fans across the globe have been treated to goal fiesta - 611 goals have been scored so far - which started from the group stage in October 2020 then to the knock-out phase and will climax in Gdansk on the 26th of May 2021 when Villarreal takes on Manchester United.

No doubt that Manchester United are the favourite going into this game. One player who has contributed immensely to their ride to the final with his goals, assists and creative play is Bruno Fernandes. He has been unplayable atimes this season and if he brings his A-game to the party on Wednesday, you can't bet against United lifting this trophy. 

For Villarreal, Gerard Moreno has played a prominent role for the Unai Emery led side all through the season, and it needs to be stated that Emery is the most successful manager in the history of this competition with 3 titles and runner-up medal to his credits.

Villarreal finished 6th in the Spanish La Liga table this season, so winning this trophy is a huge deal to the team since it will earn them automatic qualification to the Champions League for next season.

We will continue to keep tab as the hours draw near to the final of the second most prestigious club competition in Europe this midweek in Gdansk, Poland. Which side will prevail after the 90minutes of football? I don't have the answer, maybe you do.

Fabiyi Ridwan

Sports Writer and Analyst 

UEFA Europa League: The second-tier competition

UEFA Europa League is the competition for the less privilege teams who couldn't qualify for champions league.

The Thursday night football is always uncomfortable for big teams due to long journey travel to match venues.

It is full of actions, freestyle skills and goal galore for the fans to groove in excitement.

Winners of this competition qualified automatically for the following season Champions League irrespective of their position in their domestic league table.

The 2020/21 round of 16 draws pit teams from 11 different countries against each other with England having the most representatives (3).

First leg ties will take place on March 11th while second-leg fixtures will be played on March 18th. At this level the boys have been separated from the men.

Olympiacos vs Arsenal

This tie is a game of significance  for the Gunners, the Greek side knocked out the Gunners in round of 32 last season, so they must be careful for history not to repeat itself.

Both side have met 10 times in European competitions, they both have 5 wins apiece.

However the North Londoners should be able to prevail this time.

Manchester United vs AC Milan

The fallen champions of European football tie is a mouthwatering fixture.

Both teams have met 10 times before now in the elite competition, the Rossoneri have qualified 4 times although United won their last meeting in 2010.

Veteran striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic might not be able to win this game for Milan against his former team, so United is tip to qualify.

Dinamo Zagreb vs Tottenham Hotspur

Spurs scored 8 goals in two matches in the round of 32 and despits their form so far and having to face a supposed minnow, it won't be easy.

Slavia Prague vs Glasgow Rangers

The recently crowned Scottish champion are the favorite to win this tie, where three Nigerians will be facing off, Joe Aribo and Leon Balogun of Rangers and Peter Olayinka for Slavia Prague. 

Granada vs Molde FK

The Spanish side Granada are the favourite to progress in this round while the Norwegian champion are the underdogs.

AS Roma vs Shakhtar Donetsk 

The tie is a 50 -50 game, the Italian side are disciplined while the Ukraine side plays like the samba boys of Brazil due to many Brazilian players in their team.

Dynamo Kiev vs Villarreal

Emery and his boys from Spain are the favorite, because of his experience and records in Europa league, in 4 finals ,1 runner-up in 2017/18 (Arsenal). and 3 titles with sevilla.

Ajax Amsterdam vs Young Boys

The Dutch kings are finalist in  2015/16, and this game promises to be interesting because it will produce a lot of goals.

Ajax have the pedigree and quality to scale through to the next round but the Swiss side will give them a run for their money.

Hence we keep our fingers cross to see the teams that will progress to the quarter finals and the later stages of the competition .

Which team will emerge the 2020/21 champion?

Fabiyi Ridwan

Sports Writer and Analyst 

The Semi-final Hoodoo

Manchester united have been fantastic under Ole Gunnar Solksjaer, the legend cum manager has built a formidable team mixed with youth and experience players since he took over the Red Devils in December 2018

However, it is sadden that his boys always fall like a pack of cards when it really matters, recently their bitter rival Man City compound their semi-final bad luck with a 2-nil victory at old Trafford to book a place in the League Cup final.

Moreover Solskjaer and his lads suffered 3 semifinals heartache in the domestic and European cup competitions last season - to Man City (League Cup), Chelsea (FA cup) and Sevilla (UEFA Europa league).

Since Sir Alex Ferguson retired at the end of 2012/13 season, Manchester United have been a shadow of themselves. Managers such as David Moyes, Ryan Giggs (interim), Louis Van Gal, Jose Mourinho and now Ole Gunnar Solskjaer have all been brought into the fray but none of them could do it as the great man himself.

The last time Man United won any trophy was under Jose Mourinho in 2017 when they won the Europa league and League Cup by defeating Ajax and Southampton in respective finals.

The present squad are showing glimpses of promise but nearly can not kill a bird.

Can this crops of players eventually win a trophy?

Fabiyi Ridwan

Sport Writer and Analyst