The two reigning Champions of Europe, Chelsea and Villarreal, face off in the UEFA Super Cup this Wednesday. Read on for our expert tips and predictions.

With this Wednesday’s affair being the first-ever European meeting between both sides, we expect to see a highly-tactical affair in Belfast.

Highly-anticipated encounter on the cards

Tuchel reached his second consecutive UEFA Champions League Final with Chelsea having lost the season before when his PSG side took on Bayern Munich. The final against Manchester City couldn’t have turned out any better as the German via his German prodigy, in the person of Kai Havertz, led his side to their second-ever UEFA Champions League title. The Blues head into this game off the back of a decent pre-season run with two wins and a draw from three pre-season games.

Unai Emery, once again, showed the football world why he’s called the ‘Europa League Specialist’ as he led the Yellow Submarine to their first-ever major trophy. They got the better of Manchester United via a surprising long penalty shootout with all eleven players taking a kick. It was Geronimo Rulli who turned out to be the hero as he saved David De Gea’s spot-kick to clinch the title for the side. Unai Emery and his troops haven’t had the best pre-season, nonetheless, we fully expect them to be up for the task this Wednesday.

Chelsea vs Villarreal Team News

Chelsea possible starting XI:

Mendy; Azpilicueta, Zouma, Rudiger; Hudson-Odoi, Kovacic, Kante, Alonso; Ziyech, Werner; Havertz

Villarreal possible starting XI:

Asenjo; Gaspar, Foyth, Albiol, Pedraza; Yeremy, Morlanes, Trigueros, Dia; Moreno, Alcace

Chelsea vs Villarreal Prediction: 2-1

Although Unai Emery has won the Europa League three times prior to the triumph against Man United, he has also lost the UEFA Super Cup on all three occasions. That being said, we expect to see a close encounter this Wednesday with the Blues lifting yet another European trophy.