Chelsea vs Villarreal LIVE: Uefa Super Cup result, final score and reaction after penalty shootout

Chelsea have lost only two of their last 12 games against Spanish opponents in European competition, including six unbeaten encounters during their Champions League-winning run.

The Blues will be appearing in the Super Cup for a fifth time. Since winning their first in 1998 against Real Madrid, they have failed to lift the trophy in each of their last three attempts.

Already displaying no signs of fatigue or a Euro 2020 hangover, N’Golo Kante has been sharp in pre-season, controlling the midfield against Spurs.

He will ultimately hold Chelsea’s midfield together this season, as well as penetrate the opposition with his crisp passing and appetite to burst into space.

Romelu Lukaku can propel Chelsea to the brink of a title if everything clicks in the final third, but without Kante, Chelsea will struggle to touch their ceiling given their vulnerability in the Frenchman’s absence:

This will be Chelsea’s 50th game against Spanish opponents in European competition, but the first time they have faced Villarreal in competitive action.

For their part Villarreal are unbeaten in their last 15 European games, the most recent three coming against English opponents in last season’s Europa League.

Having beaten Arsenal over two legs in the semi-final they edged Manchester United in a thrilling penalty shootout in the final to lift the Europa League trophy.

Can they make it a hat-trick against English opposition tonight?

Chelsea XI: Mendy; Zouma, Chalobah, Rudiger; Hudson-Odoi, Kante, Kovacic, Alonso; Ziyech, Havertz, Werner

Villarreal XI: Asenjo; Foyth, Albiol, Pau Torres, Pedraza; Yeremi Pino, Capoue, Trigueros; Alberto Moreno, Gerard Moreno, Dia

Villarreal coach, Unai Emery, is coming up against Chelsea for the first time since his Arsenal side lost the Europa League final to the Blues in 2019.

Emery believes that Chelsea are now a stronger team than he faced two years ago but says that provides his players with an incentive to go out and win.

“Chelsea have players who reached the final stages of the Euros and Olympics but I expect a great Chelsea XI because they’ve got a first-class squad which knows about high-level games in England and in Europe.” said Emery

“We have our pride in this opportunity. Possibly this is a stronger [Chelsea} side. Even if they were Europa League holders back then. Every team which can’t be in the Champions League but play in Europa league need to be very strong, to learn and grow. They won that trophy and went on to win the Champions League, which suggests they are stronger. We feel extra incentive facing the European champions.”

Tammy Abraham is in Chelsea’s squad for Wednesday’s Super Cup meeting with Villarreal despite being heavily linked with a £34m move to Roma.

The 23-year-old has become a forgotten man at Stamford Bridge since Thomas Tuchel arrived with the German preferring other attacking options available to the Blues.

The imminent arrival of Romelu Lukaku is set to push Abraham even further down the pecking order as the Belgian was in London on Tuesday for the final part of his medical before a £96.5m move from Inter Milan.

Speaking before the game Tuchel refused to talk about potential transfers but did acknowledge some of Abraham’s frustrations saying:

"Like with players coming in as well, I will not comment on actual situations of players going out,

"Tammy is in the squad. He did some good preparation matches, clearly not happy with the last half of the year and has reason. Maybe it was also my fault not to push him and trust him on the level as other players - and he wants minutes.

"Does he fight his way back into the team where he ended last season or does he want to change club to be a regular starter? I can absolutely understand that. It is a normal situation until the transfer window is closed. We will evaluate the situation."

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has said that players who featured at the Euros may not start against Villarreal tonight. That means the likes of Cesar Azpilicueta, Reece James, and Mason Mount may have to make do with a substitute appearance at best.

Tuchel is still managing Chelsea’s pre-season training ahead of the start of the new Premier League season this weekend and he will not want to risk his regular starters.

That could be a good thing for such fringe players as Tammy Abraham, who has been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge. If Tuchel gives him an opportunity this evening will the 23-year-old be able to take it?

Speaking about his decision to rest Euro 2020 players, Tuchel said: "They could start, but can they finish the game? No. Eight days of training after a European final is pretty demanding,

"We have to find a mix and the guys who came in early and have more minutes deserve to start. Some of the guys will maybe start, but we will need a scenario of who ends for us.

"It is a competitive match, it is not only about sharing titles, it is the first title we want to win."

The Uefa Super Cup takes place this evening and is played between the winners of the Champions League and Europa League competitions. That means Chelsea, the 2021 Champions League winners, face Villarreal who won the Europa League.

The game is taking place at Windsor Park in Belfast and kicks off at 8pm. Here’s everything you need to know about tonight’s Super Cup clash:

Welcome to The Independent’s live coverage as Chelsea and Villarreal, the winners of last season’s Champions League and Europa League, meet for the Uefa Super Cup in Belfast.