Aston Villa vs Chelsea Preview

• Draw or Villa win
• Watkins to score

Aston Villa host Chelsea at Villa Park in a crucial Premier League clash that could have a significant impact on European qualification hopes.

Villa’s 2-2 draw with Liverpool in midweek extended their winless run to five matches (D4, L1), while Chelsea are still reeling from a 3-0 defeat against Brighton, their heaviest loss of the season.

Despite their struggles, Villa remain strong at home, having only lost once at Villa Park this season (W6, D7).

Meanwhile, Chelsea have dominated this fixture in recent years, going unbeaten in their last four visits (W3, D1) and scoring 2+ goals in seven of their last eight trips to Villa Park.

With just four points separating the two teams, a win for Villa would bring them closer to securing European football, while Chelsea need a response to their recent poor form.

Aston Villa: Can Emery’s Side End Their Winless Streak?

Unai Emery’s team are enduring their longest winless streak in the Premier League since December, but the resilient home form provides cause for optimism.

Only Arsenal have beaten Aston Villa at home in the league this season, while they have lost just one of their last 22 Saturday home league matches (W16, D5).

Why Villa Fans Can Be Hopeful

• Unbeaten at home in 13 of their last 14 Premier League matches (W6, D7).
• Ollie Watkins in red-hot form (3 goals in his last 4 games).
• Chelsea are struggling away from home (5-match winless away run).

Recent Form (Last Five Matches in All Competitions)

• Premier League: Aston Villa 2-2 Liverpool – D
• Premier League: Ipswich 1-1 Aston Villa – D
• Premier League: Aston Villa 1-1 Wolves – D
• FA Cup: Aston Villa 2-1 Tottenham – W
• Premier League: Aston Villa 1-1 Fulham – D

Key Player: Ollie Watkins

• Scored against Liverpool in midweek (third goal in four games).
• Has netted in 11 of his 12 Premier League scoring appearances in games where both teams scored.
• Leads Villa’s attack with a sharp eye for goal and strong link-up play.

Chelsea: Can Pochettino’s Men Respond After Brighton Humbling?

Chelsea are desperate to bounce back after a shocking 3-0 loss to Brighton, a game in which they failed to register a single shot on target.

Their form has been poor, with just two wins in their last nine league matches (D3, L4), and they’ve gone five away games without a win (D2, L3).

Despite these struggles, Villa Park has been a happy hunting ground for the Blues, winning three of their last four visits (W3, D1), with all three wins by at least a two-goal margin.

Why Chelsea Fans Can Be Hopeful

• They have won more away Premier League games at Villa Park (13) than at any other stadium besides Spurs (16) and Southampton (15).
• Villa haven’t beaten Chelsea at home since May 2021.
• Chelsea have scored 2+ goals in seven of their last eight visits to Villa Park.

Recent Form (Last Five Matches in All Competitions)

• Premier League: Brighton 3-0 Chelsea – L
• FA Cup: Chelsea 2-1 Fulham – W
• Premier League: Chelsea 1-1 Brentford – D
• Premier League: Chelsea 2-1 West Ham – W
• Premier League: Man City 1-0 Chelsea – L

Key Player: Pedro Neto

• Scored four goals this season, all in the second half.
• Yet to score an away goal for Chelsea.
• Chelsea will need his creativity and pace to unlock Villa’s defence.

Head-to-Head Record (Last Six Meetings in All Competitions)

Key Trends

• Chelsea have won four of their last six H2Hs.
• Three of Chelsea’s last four wins at Villa Park have been by two-goal margins.
• Villa won the last league meeting at Stamford Bridge (1-0).

Tactical Insights

Aston Villa’s Approach

• Use Ollie Watkins’ movement to stretch Chelsea’s defence.
• Dominate possession at home and dictate the tempo.
• Exploit Chelsea’s vulnerability in transitions, especially after their 3-0 loss to Brighton.

Chelsea’s Approach

• Look for quick attacking transitions through Pedro Neto and Cole Palmer.
• Stay compact defensively after conceding three against Brighton.
• Utilise width to break down Villa’s defence.

Match Prediction

Villa’s home form has been solid, but their failure to convert draws into wins could haunt them here. Chelsea have struggled away from home, but their historical dominance at Villa Park and need for a response after the Brighton loss suggest they’ll be up for the fight.

This should be a closely contested match, but Villa’s strong home record and Chelsea’s inconsistency could see the hosts edge it.

Final Score Prediction: Aston Villa 2-1 Chelsea

• Watkins to score again.
• Chelsea to improve from Brighton loss but still struggle away.
• Villa to strengthen their European push.

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Aston Villa v Chelsea, 2024/25 | Premier League