Marco Asensio marked his return to form with a dazzling double as Aston Villa came from behind to secure a dramatic 2-1 victory against Chelsea at Villa Park on Saturday. This win not only highlighted the Spaniard's talent but also marked his first goals since joining the team on loan from Paris Saint-Germain earlier this month.
The match started with Chelsea taking the lead early on. Enzo Fernández capitalized on quick interplay with Pedro Neto to net the opener just nine minutes in, plunging Villa momentarily back as they searched for answers to overcome the early setback.
Despite Chelsea's promising start under manager Enzo Maresca, where they dominated the first half, Aston Villa, led by Unai Emery, fought back. The Villains struggled initially, with Ollie Watkins missing several opportunities to equalize. But the tide began to turn when Emery made tactical changes at halftime, introducing Marcus Rashford, who proved to be instrumental.
Numerous chances went begging on both sides until the 57th minute when Rashford, finding his feet after the break, made a pivotal cross to Marco. Initially ruled offside, the result was overturned by VAR, allowing the energetic forward to celebrate his first goal for Villa.
With their confidence restored, Aston Villa began to exert more control over the match. Yet Chelsea still posed significant threats, with Cole Palmer coming close on several occasions. Nevertheless, it was the mismatched fortunes of the two goalkeepers—Emiliano Martínez for Villa and Filip Jorgensen for Chelsea—that turned decisive late in the game.
Villa's winning goal came from yet another setup involving Rashford. Just moments before the final whistle, Rashford assisted again, and Jorgensen's amateurish mistake allowed Marco's shot to sneak past him for the winner. Painfully, as he attempted to stop the ball, it slipped right through his legs, sending Villa Park erupting with joy.
After the match, Marco expressed his happiness, stating, "We are now only one point behind Chelsea, which was our objective to try to catch them." His double not only helped clinch the three points but reignited Aston Villa's hopes of pushing up the table toward Champions League qualification.
The victory was particularly sweet for Villa, as they snapped Chelsea's six-month unbeaten run at Villa Park, marking the team's sixth consecutive defeat for Maresca's side. The irony of the moment was not lost on both managers, with Maresca lamenting, "The position of goalkeeper is very difficult. When you make a mistake, everyone knows it." It's clear the Chelsea gaffer understands the weight of keeping their Champions League hopes alive was heavy this season.
This now places Aston Villa just one point behind the Blues, intensifying the battle for European football. The performance on the pitch suggested ambition and drive, with Villa eager to assert their presence among the Premier League elites. Both teams will have to regroup quickly, with the pressure mounting as they prepare for their subsequent showdowns. For now, the celebrations at Villa Park signal hope and renewal as Marco and his teammates chase Champions League dreams.