Aston Villa will face Chelsea this Saturday, February 22, 2025, at 14:30 (Brasília time) at Villa Park, Birmingham, as part of the Premier League's 26th round. Both teams are striving for spots in European competitions, with Aston Villa currently sitting 9th with 39 points and Chelsea at 6th with 43 points. This match is expected to be highly competitive and carries significant weight for both sides as they attempt to secure their positions among the league's elite.
The stakes are intense for Aston Villa, who have not tasted victory for five consecutive matches in the Premier League. Manager Unai Emery is aiming to improve the team’s performance after securing only four points out of possible 15. Villa's strength lies on home turf, where they have been unbeaten for 13 matches—seven wins and six draws—demonstrated by their last result: a thrilling 2-2 draw against the league leaders, Liverpool. This result provided some encouragement and hope as they prepare to host Chelsea.
Chelsea, on the other hand, is wrestling with inconsistencies, having lost their last two matches to Brighton, one of which knocked them out of the FA Cup. Under the management of Enzo Maresca, Chelsea is expected to adopt an aggressive approach to overcome Aston Villa's defense, as they aspire to reclaim their place among the top four, just one point behind Manchester City. Reportedly, Chelsea has the fourth-highest number of shots per game, averaging 16 attempts. They will need to leverage this attacking proficiency to secure three points.
The rivalry between these two clubs is tightly contested, with Chelsea historically leading the head-to-head with 68 wins compared to Villa's 60, alongside 38 draws. Their last encounter ended with Chelsea triumphing 3-0, and the Blues aim to repeat history this weekend.
Given both teams' current form, this match might lean toward being open-ended. Previous statistics suggest games often see both sides find the net, with 72% of Chelsea's matches concluding with goals on both ends. Following this trend, betting odds reflect the likelihood of more than 2.5 goals being scored during the fixture, with Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins being the primary candidate to score, having netted 11 league goals this season.
For the match, Chelsea's starting lineup is set to feature Jorgensen, Gusto, Chalobah, Colwill, and Cucurella across the backline, with Enzo Fernández and Moisés Caicedo anchoring the midfield. Up front, the attacking trio might include Jadon Sancho, Cole Palmer, and Nkunku as they press to secure offensive momentum.
The absence of key players due to injury also factors significantly. Aston Villa will likely miss Pau Torres, Boubacar Kamara, Ross Barkley, and Amadou Onana, which may impact their midfield control and defensive solidity. This situation allows for potential shifts to the lineup, as Emery must strategize effectively with the available players.
Fans and viewers can catch the match live on Disney+ Premium, where they can follow the action as it transpires. With the match being pivotal, eyes will be on both teams to see if they can turn their fortunes around, aiming for not just survival but progression to European competitions.
Moving forward, the excitement around the upcoming Aston Villa vs Chelsea match promises to deliver intense competition, as both clubs aim to seize the opportunity to bolster their standings within the Premier League table. Can Villa leverage their home advantage to edge out struggling Chelsea, or will the Blues find their form and re-establish their credentials as contenders for the top spots?