Aston Villa is set to take on Chelsea at Villa Park in what promises to be a thrilling Premier League encounter on Saturday. With Villa seeking to bridge the gap to Chelsea, the Blues are determined to change their fortunes after a challenging period.
Venue: Villa Park, Birmingham
Date: Saturday, 22 February 2025
Kick-off Time: 17:30 GMT / 12:30 ET / 09:30 PT
Referee: Michael Oliver
VAR: Paul Tierney
Match Preview
Aston Villa, playing their fourth consecutive home game, are coming off a respectable draw against league leaders Liverpool. However, their winless streak in the last five Premier League matches has seen them lose ground in the race for Champions League spots. A victory against Chelsea would bring them within a single point of the Blues.
On the other hand, Chelsea is grappling with a rough patch of their own, particularly struggling in away games. With no wins in their last six matches on the road across all competitions, Enzo Maresca’s squad is desperate for a morale-boosting victory to turn their season around.
Head-to-Head Record (Last Five Games)
In their last five encounters, Chelsea have had the edge with two wins, while Aston Villa have managed just one victory. The remaining two matches ended in draws, showing how closely contested this fixture has been.
Their most recent clash saw Chelsea dominate with a 3-0 win over Villa on December 1, 2024. Can Villa bounce back this time, or will Chelsea continue their strong run?
Current Form (All Competitions)
Both teams have experienced mixed results in recent weeks, making this an unpredictable clash. Aston Villa have shown some resilience with two wins in their last five games, while Chelsea have struggled for consistency, suffering three defeats in the same period.
Here’s a closer look at their recent form across all competitions.
- Aston Villa: D, D, W, L, W
- Chelsea: L, L, W, L, W
Despite the inconsistency, Chelsea will be hoping to build on their recent win and turn things around, especially with key players returning. Aston Villa, on the other hand, will be determined to capitalize on their home advantage and continue their push for a top spot in the league.
How to Watch
Make sure you tune in for this thrilling Premier League clash! Whether you’re watching from home or on the go, don’t miss a minute of the action. Here’s where you can catch the game live in your country:
| Country | TV Channels & Streaming |
|---|---|
| UK | 1. Sky Sports Main Event 2. Sky Premier League 3. Sky Ultra HD 4. Sky GO 5. Sky GO Extra 6. NOW TV |
| US | 1. fuboTV 2. UNIVERSO NOW 3. Peacock 4. Telemundo 5. Deportes En Vivo 6. UNIVERSO, NBC 7. Telemundo |
| Canada | 1. fuboTV Canada, 2. Fubo Sports 3. Network Canada |
In the UK, Sky Sports offers HD and on-the-go access via Sky GO. In the US, fuboTV and Peacock provide coverage, with Telemundo offering Spanish commentary. Canadian fans can catch the game on fuboTV or Fubo Sports Network.
Team News
Both teams head into this clash with key absences due to injuries and suspensions. Aston Villa are dealing with defensive shortages, while Chelsea are missing several attacking options. Here’s a look at the latest team updates and expected lineups for both sides.
Aston Villa:
Since making the move from Manchester United to Aston Villa on loan, Marcus Rashford has yet to find the back of the net for his new club. Despite his reputation as a prolific scorer in the Premier League, the England international has struggled to make an immediate impact in Villa colors.
Rashford has shown glimpses of his talent, contributing with key assists and lively performances, but his lack of goals has been a source of frustration for both him and the Villa faithful. With Villa’s attacking options limited due to injuries, Rashford will be looking to find his scoring touch, and there’s no better opportunity than against a Chelsea side that has been vulnerable at times this season.
However, with four goals in eight home Premier League matches against Chelsea, he could retain his place on the left flank. Morgan Rogers, Marco Asensio, and Ollie Watkins are also in contention to feature in attack.
Aston Villa will be without four injured players: Pau Torres (ankle), Amadou Onana (thigh), Boubacar Kamara (muscle), and Ross Barkley (calf). Ezri Konsa and Leon Bailey are also doubtful with unspecified issues and will undergo late fitness checks before kickoff.
Chelsea loanee Axel Disasi is ineligible to play against his parent club, leaving Villa short of defensive options. If Konsa is not passed fit, Unai Emery may turn to Lamare Bogarde to partner Tyrone Mings in central defense.
Unavailable: Axel Disasi, Pau Torres, Amadou Onana, Boubacar Kamara, Ross Barkley
Doubtful: Leon Bailey
Expected Lineup (4-2-3-1): Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne; McGinn, Tielemans; Ramsey, Rogers, Rashford; Watkins
Chelsea:
Despite going five games without a goal or assist, Cole Palmer is expected to continue in a central attacking role alongside Christopher Nkunku. Both players might rotate in a false nine position. Palmer’s last contribution came in Chelsea’s victory over Villa on December 1.
The team will be missing several key players due to injuries: Noni Madueke, Nicolas Jackson, Wesley Fofana, and Omari Kellyman (all hamstring), Romeo Lavia (muscle), Marc Guiu (groin), and Benoit Badiashile (thigh). Additionally, Mykhaylo Mudryk is unavailable due to suspension.
Pushing for starts in defense, Reece James and Tosin Adarabioyo could see Malo Gusto and Trevoh Chalobah relegated to the bench. Meanwhile, Jadon Sancho is anticipated to step in for the injured Madueke on the left wing, enabling Pedro Neto to shift to the right.
Unavailable: Noni Madueke, Nicolas Jackson, Marc Guiu, Mykhailo Mudryk, Wesley Fofana, Benoit Badiashile, Romeo Lavia (injury), Omari Kellyman
Expected Lineup (4-2-3-1): Jorgensen; James, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Neto, Palmer, Sancho; Nkunku
Prediction
Chelsea’s recent form has put them under significant pressure, especially after back-to-back defeats to Brighton. Aston Villa, while also not in peak form, could capitalize on Chelsea’s uncertainties. Expect a closely contested match with Villa potentially edging it out.
Predicted Score: Aston Villa 2-1 Chelsea