Chelsea vs Villarreal Predictions

• Chelsea enjoyed an unbeaten record against Spanish opposition last season (W4, D2).
• Seven of the last eight Super Cups have been won by the Champions League winners.
• Villarreal are winless in pre-season (D3, L3).

Chelsea can pass Villarreal test

Chelsea return to competitive action for the first time since claiming the Champions League title when they face Europa League winners Villarreal in the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday.

The Blues may have landed Europe’s top prize last term, but they had a mixed record in finals after losing the FA Cup showpiece to Leicester and Villarreal shouldn’t be underestimated.

The Yellow Submarine have a strong recent record over Premier League opposition as they overcame Arsenal over two legs in the Europa League last four before seeing off Manchester United on penalties in the final.

However, the La Liga outfit have struggled during pre-season and are winless in six games over the summer (D3, L3).  Villarreal have faced Premier League opponents in their two most recent friendlies and lost to Leicester before playing out a 2-2 draw with Leeds.

Chelsea had a great record against La Liga opposition last season as they were unbeaten in six games in the Champions League.  The London outfit managed four points from two games against Sevilla in the group stages, beat Atletico Madrid in both legs in the last 16 and then overcame Real Madrid with a win and a draw in the last four.

The Premier League outfit have come through their own pre-season campaign unbeaten with three wins and a draw, and we feel they should have the quality to claim the Super Cup for the first time since Roman Abramovich’s takeover in 2003 at the fourth time of asking.

History is on Chelsea’s side

Seven of the last eight Super Cups have been won by the Champions League winner and we’re expecting that pattern to continue, and we feel Chelsea can get the job done in 90 minutes.

Chelsea impressed at the back in the Premier League last season with 36 goals conceded in 38 games, the second best defensive record in the division, but mistakes did creep in towards the end of the campaign.  The clean sheet the Stamford Bridge club managed in the Champions League final was their only shut-out in their last six games, and both teams have scored in all of their pre-season outings.  

Villarreal have only drawn a blank once in their last 20 competitive games, and that came in the second leg of their Europa League semi-final against Arsenal when they were protecting a lead, so goals at both ends could be on the agenda on Wednesday and with that in mind a 2-1 win for Chelsea appeals in the correct score market.

Havertz the danger man in makeshift attack

Chelsea are yet to finalise their squad ahead of the new season and it is widely expected that Romelu Lukaku will sign from Inter Milan, while Tammy Abraham is likely to move on.  That leaves boss Thomas Tuchel light on numbers in attack and they will probably line-up without a recognised centre-forward on Wednesday but they still have plenty of attacking talent within their ranks.

One player who stands out as an anytime goalscorer option is Kai Havertz.  The 22-year-old German managed a respectable nine goals in 45 appearances in all competitions last season but showed he can raise his level for the big games with the winner in the Champions League final.  The former Bayer Leverkusen man also scored twice for his country at Euro 2020 and he looks a good option for an anytime goal against Villarreal.