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Two Premier League teams vying for a top-four finish meet at Villa Park on Saturday evening as Aston Villa hosts Chelsea in a crucial battle for European spots. Unai Emery's side will be hoping for revenge after suffering a 3-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge in December, and they will be aiming to make the most of their home advantage.
Aston Villa's Recent Form
Aston Villa's form has been inconsistent in recent weeks, with Unai Emery admitting after their 2-2 draw with Liverpool that a point was a fair result in a highly competitive encounter. Villa were ahead at halftime thanks to goals from Youri Tielemans and Ollie Watkins, but Trent Alexander-Arnold's deflected strike salvaged a draw for the Reds.
However, Villa's position in the league is still promising. With just six wins from their last 21 Premier League matches, Emery's side sits ninth in the table, only five points behind Manchester City in fourth and within reach of a Champions League spot. Despite struggling to win at home, Villa has been tough to beat at Villa Park this season, with only one loss in their last 22 matches.
Chelsea's Current Struggles
On the flip side, Chelsea has been on a downward spiral in recent weeks. After an impressive 12-game unbeaten run between November and December, they have only managed three wins from their last 10 matches. Recent defeats to Brighton have left the West Londoners desperate to turn their fortunes around.
Enzo Maresca's side has struggled away from home, failing to win in their last six away games. They have also been blunt in attack, scoring only two goals in their last five Premier League away fixtures. Chelsea's strong history at Villa Park—having won 13 Premier League away matches against Aston Villa—gives them some hope of a positive result, but their recent form will make them wary.
Key Team News
Aston Villa will be without key players including Pau Torres, Amadou Onana, and Boubacar Kamara, while Ezri Konsa, Leon Bailey, and Ross Barkley remain doubts. On the other hand, Chelsea will miss the services of Noni Madueke, Nicolas Jackson, and Mykhaylo Mudryk, while Benoit Badiashile is also a concern for the game.
Possible Lineups:
Aston Villa:
Martinez; Garcia, Bogarde, Mings, Digne; Tielemans, McGinn; Rogers, Asensio, Rashford; Watkins
Chelsea:
Jorgensen; James, Tosin, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Neto, Palmer, Sancho; Nkunku
Prediction: Aston Villa 2-1 Chelsea
While Chelsea comfortably defeated Aston Villa in December, a closer contest is expected this time. Villa’s strong home form and Chelsea’s defensive frailties suggest that Unai Emery's side will edge out a victory. Aston Villa will be looking to make the most of their home advantage and secure crucial points in the race for the top four.
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