Chelsea’s line-up for the game against Villarreal for the European Super Cup is known. Manager Thomas Tuchel has made a starting spot for Hakim Ziyech, who left an excellent impression in the preseason. Tammy Abraham, awaiting the completion of the transfer to AS Roma, is in the match selection but will start from the bench. Mason Mount, who has only recently joined the group, is also starting as a substitute. Kick-off is at Windsor Park in Belfast at 9pm.
Below the bar, Tuchel chooses Édouard Mendy as usual, who has a three-man defense in front of him. Making his official debut, Trevoh Chalobah takes center stage in the back, where he is joined by Antonio Rüdiger (left) and Kurt Zouma (right). Marcos Alonso will also fill the left-back position, while Callum Hudson-Odoi will cover the right wing. The two-man block in midfield is formed by Mateo Kovacic and N’Golo Kanté.
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In the forward, Kai Haverts will play hanging from the left, and in the striker Tuchel has made a place for Timo Werner. Abraham is on his way to Roma and will start from the bench, while Lukaku’s transfer has not been completed in time to call on him. Ziyech will start at the front from the right. The Moroccan international showed himself several times in the preparation and in particular stood out in the exhibition game with Tottenham Hotspur (2-2), in which he scored twice.
The statistical signs are not very promising for Villarreal. The winners of the Champions League stepped off the field in seven of the last eight European Super Cups. The last time the Europa League winner pulled the longest straw was in 2018, when Atlético Madrid settled with Real Madrid: 4-2. Furthermore, it is the fifth time for the Londoners that there is a battle for the main prize, which was won only once (1998). El Submarino Amarillo competes for the trophy for the first time.
Trainer Unai Emery has his team start in a 4-3-3 formation. The line-up differs in three places compared to the won Europa League final. Sergio Asenjo is preferred to Gerónimo Rulli at the bottom. In midfield, the injured Dani Parejo’s honors are taken over by Alberto Moreno, who scored three times in six games in pre-season. Gerard Moreno is now in the striker position instead of Carlos Bacca, who left for Granada, while brand new acquisition Boulaye Dia (former Stade de Reims) is the left winger.
Chelsea lineup: mendy; Zouma, Chalobah, Rudiger; Hudson-Odoi, Kante, Kovacic, Alonso; Ziyech, Werner, Havertz.
Villarreal line-up: asenjo; Foyth, Albiol, Pau Torres, Pedraza; Trigueros, Capoue, Moreno; Pino, Gerard Moreno, Dia.