After the Champions League, Chelsea also won the Supercup. In Windsor Park in Belfast, Northern Ireland, the Londoners prevailed 7: 6 (1: 0, 1: 1, 1: 1) on penalties against the Europa League winners Villarreal CF. The opening goal against the Spaniards was scored by Hakim Ziyech (27th minute), who placed a cross from the German national player Kai Havertz in the goal. Gerard Moreno equalized (73rd). From the point it was Havertz, who failed with the first penalty shot by Sergio Asenjo – because of two saves by substitute keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga it was enough to win the title.
In addition to Havertz, coach Thomas Tuchel also counted on his two other DFB players Antonio Rüdiger and Timo Werner in the starting line-up. For the offensive players Havertz and Werner, it was not just about another cup, but also about promoting themselves: The Supercup could have been the last game before the official announcement of Romelu Lukakus’ transfer from Inter Milan to Chelsea. In addition to the Belgian world-class striker, only two more places would be left in the attack by the Londoners.
Accordingly, Chelsea started on the offensive briskly: Werner had his first good scene when he dangerously steered a Ziyech corner with his toe on goal (7th). Midfield driver N’Golo Kanté also approached the early goal with a sharp long-range shot after winning the ball himself (9th). The advancing defender Trevoh Cahlobah narrowly missed the lead when his shot was blocked by Ziyech after a remarkable diagonal ball (24th).
Villarreal only comes into play after the 0-1 draw
Villarreal hardly managed any relief attacks, the deficit was logical: Havertz received a pass from Marcos Alonso on the left wing and played flat into the penalty area, Ziyech successfully completed the strongly played attack (27th). Only then did Villarreal become active himself, but in a first duel with Chelsea keeper Edouard Mendy, Villarreal’s winger Boulaye Dia initially remained second winner (33rd).
The balance of power on the pitch now shifted noticeably in favor of the Spaniards. Villarreal was lucky that Chelsea’s Kurt Zouma shot the ball just over the goal from close range (36th). Until the break, however, the underdog’s strongest phase so far followed, shortly before the break whistle, Alberto Moreno hit the lower edge of the crossbar from five meters with the best chance to date (45th + 4). Shortly before, Ziyech had left the pitch, the goal scorer had to leave the field with complaints in the shoulder area for ex-Dortmund’s Christian Pulisic (43.).
Villarreal remained dangerous in the second half. After a playback error by Mendy and a pass from Dia, Gerard Moreno initially only hit the post (52nd), but took the next big chance and scored the equalizer after one-two with Dia (73rd). Both teams went into overtime at eye level.
During the 30 extra minutes, it was noticeable to the teams that they did not want to go to the limits of their strength a few days before their respective league start. Pulisic used one of the rare moments in which Chelsea played with speed to a dangerous finish – but this just missed the far post (100th). Villarreal keeper Sergio Asenjo also kept his team in the game with a save against substitute Mason Mount (108th).
The team of coach Unai Emery started the penalty shootout with good memories: At 11:10 after penalty kicks in the Europa League final against Manchester United, all players had converted their penalties. Asenjo defused Havertz’s first shot, but Villarreal’s second shooter Aissa Mandi also failed due to Arrizabalaga, who was substituted for the showdown. After Rüdiger submitted the sixth converted penalty for Chelsea, Villarreal captain Raúl Albiol took on – Arrizabalaga jumped into the right corner and secured the title for Chelsea.
