Two teams with top-four aspirations go head-to-head on Saturday evening as Aston Villa welcome Chelsea to Villa Park for what promises to be a thrilling encounter.
Villa Seeking Revenge After Stamford Bridge Defeat
Unai Emery’s men will be eager to make amends for their 3-0 loss to Chelsea in the reverse fixture last December. Their recent form in the Premier League has been frustrating, with five games without a win, four of which ended in draws. Their latest match saw them share the spoils in a thrilling 2-2 draw against league leaders Liverpool, a result Emery felt was a fair outcome given both teams’ performances.
Despite struggling to secure victories in recent weeks, Villa remain firmly in the race for Champions League qualification. Sitting ninth in the standings, they are just five points adrift of fourth-placed Manchester City and four points behind both Chelsea and Bournemouth.
At home, Villa have been resilient, suffering only one defeat in their last 22 league outings at Villa Park, a 2-0 loss to Arsenal in August. However, their record against London clubs has dipped, with only four wins in their last 15 meetings (D6 L5), a stark contrast to their previous dominant run of 10 consecutive victories over teams from the capital. Against Chelsea, they have won just twice in their last 11 home encounters.
Chelsea Looking to End Poor Run of Form
Chelsea were enjoying an impressive unbeaten run between November and December but have since struggled, winning only three of their last 10 matches in all competitions. Their recent form has been particularly concerning, with three defeats in their last four games, including back-to-back losses against Brighton in both the FA Cup and the Premier League. Their 3-0 defeat at the Amex Stadium last time out saw them fail to register a single shot on target, an issue Enzo Maresca described as their worst performance under his tenure.
Now in sixth place, just a point outside the top four, Chelsea need a response to reignite their push for Champions League football. Their away form has been a significant concern, with no wins in their last six matches across all competitions (D2 L4) and just two goals scored in their last five league games on the road. However, history favors the Blues, as they have won 13 times at Villa Park in Premier League history, a tally bettered only at Tottenham and Southampton. Their dominant victory over Villa earlier in the season also offers a psychological advantage heading into this clash.
Team News and Predicted Lineups
Villa’s injury woes continue, with Pau Torres (ankle), Amadou Onana (thigh), Boubacar Kamara (muscle), and Ross Barkley (calf) all sidelined. Ezri Konsa and Leon Bailey remain doubts and will be assessed before the game. With a depleted defense, Lamare Bogarde may partner Tyrone Mings at center-back if Konsa is unavailable.
In attack, Marcus Rashford is still searching for his first goal since joining on loan from Manchester United, but given his strong record against Chelsea—four goals in eight home appearances—he could retain his spot in the lineup alongside Morgan Rogers, Marco Asensio, and Ollie Watkins.
Chelsea, meanwhile, will be without several key players, including Noni Madueke, Nicolas Jackson, Wesley Fofana, Omari Kellyman (all hamstring), Romeo Lavia (muscle), Marc Guiu (groin), Benoit Badiashile (thigh), and the suspended Mykhaylo Mudryk.
Reece James and Tosin Adarabioyo could return to the defense, replacing Malo Gusto and Trevoh Chalobah. Jadon Sancho is expected to step in for the injured Madueke on the left flank, with Pedro Neto shifting to the right. Cole Palmer, who has struggled in recent matches with no goal contributions in his last five outings, will likely continue in a central attacking role alongside Christopher Nkunku, with both sharing false nine responsibilities.
Predicted Lineups
Aston Villa Possible Starting XI:
Martinez; Garcia, Bogarde, Mings, Digne; Tielemans, McGinn; Rogers, Asensio, Rashford; Watkins
Chelsea Possible Starting XI:
Jorgensen; James, Tosin, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Neto, Palmer, Sancho; Nkunku
