Fixtures
- Chelsea Vs. Aston Villa – Sun, Dec 1st 2024, 13:30
Aston Villa look to return to winning ways in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon, with a 1.30pm trip to Chelsea.
Unai Emery’s side visit West London after putting another point on the board in the Champions League in midweek, drawing 0-0 at home to Juventus.
Having won their last two league matches at Stamford Bridge, the Villans will be looking for three-consecutive league wins on the road against the Blues for the first time in almost a century.
Enzo Maresca’s side enter the clash in decent form, having lost just once in the league since the openeing day. They currently occupy third place in the Premier League table, one point behind second-placed Manchester City.
They will be looking for a third-straight victory in all competitions, after a Premier League win on the road at Leicester City last weekend was followed up in midweek with a 2-0 triumph on the road at Heidenheim on Thursday evening.
Emery’s men will be hoping for a repeat of either of their last two trips to Chelsea, which were won 2-0 (2022/23) and 1-0 (2023/24), while their last visit to West London brought a 3-1 win over Fulham in October.
Stats
Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins has scored in his last two Premier League away games against Chelsea, with both ending up being the winning goal in the match. No visiting player has ever scored three match-winning goals at Stamford Bridge in the competition.
No player has created more chances from open play in the Premier League this season than Chelsea’s Cole Palmer (28). Aston Villa are one of just three sides he’s failed to score or assist against in the league since joining the Blues (2 appearances), along with Liverpool (2 apps) and Leicester (1).
Five of Nicolas Jackson’s seven Premier League goals this season have put Chelsea 1-0 ahead in the match – coming into this weekend’s games, only Chris Wood (6) has scored the opening goal in more different games this term.
Just 31% of Aston Villa’s shots in the Premier League this season have been on target (48/153), with only Everton having a lower percentage so far (30%). However, Aston Villa have found the net with 40% of these attempts on target, the highest ratio in the division so far this term.
Chelsea have conceded at least once in all six of their Premier League home games this season – they last had a longer wait for a home clean sheet from the start of a league campaign in 1978/79 (9 games).
Aston Villa have won their last two Premier League away games against Chelsea, as many as in their previous 21 visits to Stamford Bridge (D4 L15). They last won three consecutive away league games against the Blues between 1930 and 1933.
Aston Villa have scored both a league high total (6) and share (32%) of their Premier League goals via headers this season. As it stands, it’s their highest share of headed goals in a single top-flight campaign since 2001-02 (33% – 15/46).
Aston Villa are winless in their last four Premier League games (D2 L2). They last went five without a win between May and August 2022, while they last did so in the same season in March/April 2022 (both runs under Steven Gerrard).
Just 41% of Chelsea’s Premier League points this season have come in home games (9/22), the lowest ratio of any side so far this term.
Chelsea are winless in their last three Premier League meetings with Aston Villa (D1 L2), last having a longer such run against them between February 2006 and December 2007 (5).
The Last Meeting
The points were shared in the last meeting between the two sides, as a Chelsea comeback denied Villa the victory on home soil in April.
Unai Emery’s side took a 2-0 lead into the break thanks to an own goal from Marc Cucurella and a near-post strike from Morgan Rogers.
But goals after the break from Noni Madueke and Conor Gallagher snatched a point for the Blues, who were denied a late winner following a VAR check, after Benoît Badiashile was adjudged to have fouled Diego Carlos before squaring for Axel Disasi to head home.
Team News
The Villans will assess Amadou Onana ahead of the clash, after he picked up a knock while on international duty with Belgium, ruling him out of last weekend’s draw with Crystal Palace and midweek Champions League action.
One player unavailable, however, is Jacob Ramsey, as Unai Emery confirmed he would still be missing for Villa in his pre-match press conference.
Enzo Maresca will be without the services of Reece James, after it was confirmed the Chelsea captain had suffered a further injury setback last week.
Malo Gusto and Pedro Neto could join the England international on the sidelines, having missed the Blues’ win at Leicester City last weekend, while Christopher Nkunku is a doubt having limped off during Thursday evening’s Conference League win at Heidenheim.
Managers’ Pre-Match Thoughts
“Of course, Chelsea is Chelsea, with the players they have and the club it is. The coaches and the manager at the beginning have done very well in different competitions. They are in the table, progressively getting better. They have three points in advantage of us. We started better than them, but now, Sunday is a very important match, how we can be closer to them.” – Unai Emery
“Villa have a top manager, they are doing fantastic. I know Emery from Sevilla and I know how intense they are. They are showing fantastic things with very good players. It will be a tough game.” – Enzo Maresca
