Aston Villa vs Chelsea Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Aston Villa have been inconsistent of late but earned themselves a draw in a much-improved performance against Liverpool in midweek ahead of the visit of Chelsea to Villa Park this week.
Kick-off date/time: Saturday 22nd February, 2025: UK – 5:30pm / US ET – 12:30pm / US PT – 9:30am
How to watch on TV: UK – Sky Sports / US – NBC
How to watch online: UK – Sky Go / US – Universo
Aston Villa Preview: Still challenging
Aston Villa come into this one on the back of a 2-2 draw with league leaders Liverpool at Villa Park in an entertaining clash in midweek. After going behind, Villa went into half-time in the lead before Trent Alexander-Arnold equalised for the Reds in the second-half.
The Villains had to rescue a point against relegation battling Ipswich Town at home last weekend and there will be a growing frustration that the level of their performances varies so much dependent on the perceived importance of their fixture.
Chelsea Preview: The collapse of the Blues
Heading into Christmas, Chelsea were very much involved in the Premier League title race but the Blues’ form has dipped majorly in the last couple of months to now mean they begin the weekend’s round of fixtures sitting outside of the top five in the English top-flight.
The Blues most recently suffered back-to-back defeats to Brighton and Hove Albion; firstly in the FA Cup and then in the league. They have earned just three victories in their last 11 matches across all competitions: home games against 16th and 17th in the league as well as Morecambe.
Aston Villa Team News: Coming soon
Both Ezri Konsa and Leon Bailey are expected to be involved this weekend as they come through training on Friday unscathed with Matty Cash returning to the squad in midweek and coming on for Andres Garcia in the second-half. They will be without defender Axel Disasi, who is unable to play against his parent club.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Martinez; Garcia, Konsa, Mings, Digne; McGinn, Tielemans; Rogers, Asensio, Rashford; Watkins
Unavailable: Disasi (Ineligible), Torres (Injured), Kamara (Injured), Onana (Fitness), Barkley (Injured)
Questionable: Konsa (Fitness), Bailey (Fitness)
Chelsea Team News: Madueke out
England international Noni Madueke has picked up an injury issue that is expected to see him unavailable until after the March international break. He joins an injury list that includes the likes of Wesley Fofana, Romeo Lavia and Nicolas Jackson.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; James, Adarabioyo, Colwill, Cucurella; Fernandez, Caicedo; Neto, Palmer, Sancho; Nkunku
Unavailable: Badiashile (Injured), Fofana (Injured), Lavia (Injured), Mudryk (Disciplinary), Madueke (Injured), Kellyman (Injured), Jackson (Injured), Guiu (Injured)
Questionable:
Aston Villa vs Chelsea Prediction
Aston Villa have brought in some big name players expected to perform on the big stage as they head into the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League next month. In the Premier League, though, they need to start getting consistent results. Chelsea are a bit of a mess and the clarity and cohesion that Enzo Maresca had seemingly found or built in the first-half of the season, both on and off the pitch, appears to have gone. Neither of these sides can necessarily be trusted to win a game at the moment but it should well be quite entertaining.
Aston Villa vs Chelsea Tip: Both teams to score
