During the week leading up to the final, Thomas Tuchel and his final opponent Unai Emery took turns praising each other's coaching deeds in the press.

The German just replaced Emery in PSG before he himself was also fired from the big club.

None of them were particularly successful in Paris, but this spring they each won the European title.

When they now had to settle, Tuchel's last cunning became decisive.

Chelsea started best

Four days after, among others, Pau Torres played and lost an Olympic final and closed last season, his Villarreal kicked off the European club team season 2021-22 with a supercup final against Chelsea.

Unsurprisingly, most of them managed to get to Windsor Park in Belfast's blue-clad Chelsea fans.

The first half was also very blue.

Although Villarreal threatened Mendy's goal moderately a couple of times and really once (Alberto Moreno thundered a volley into the crossbar from close range) Chelsea's 1-0 lead was well deserved.

Goal scorer number 1 - late out injured

Kai Havertz pulled away on the left wing, compatriot Timo Werner tricked Olympic finalist Pau Torres into a deflecting run and gave Hakim Ziyech a free kick to take the lead behind Sergio Asenjo in the 27th minute. 

Chelsea and not least the goal scorer Ziyech had taken over where last season ended and impressed with his frenzy.

But when the Moroccan landed badly at the end of the first half after a duel in his own penalty area, it was over.

The winger, who has had a brilliant pre-season, shrugged his shoulders as he was led off the pitch.

With him, much of the London team's attacking energy also disappeared.

Goal scorer number 2 - wrote club history

After the break, Villarreal took over more and more.

When Gerard Moreno was released in the 73rd minute by a heel signed the newly acquired Boulaye Dia, it was an expected equalizer that he could drill into the cross with the wrong foot.

The goal was his 83 for the club and meant that he can now call himself Villarreal's most goal scorer of all time.

It was also the last goal of regular match time. But little consolation an hour later when his yellow submarines narrowly lost on penalties.