The European curtain-raiser takes place at Windsor Park in Belfast on Wednesday night, as Chelsea and Villarreal do battle in the UEFA Super Cup.
Thomas Tuchel guided the Blues to Champions League glory last season, while serial Europa League winner Unai Emery was up to his old tricks in the continent’s secondary competition.
Chelsea’s last three UEFA Super Cup encounters have seen them lose out to Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich and Liverpool since 2012.
However, Villarreal’s pre-season Iu period has been a truly forgettable affair, as Emery’s side have failed to win any of their six exhibition encounters.
With the 2020-21 Europa League representing their first-ever major trophy, Villarreal will be making their debut in the Super Cup this year, but victory for the Yellow Submarine would see them become the sixth different Spanish side to win the competition, surpassing England – whom they currently share the record.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Eugene Sottie