Image Source: Alamy Stock Photo
2024/25 English Premier League
Matchday 26
Aston Villa v Chelsea
Villa Park
Birmingham, England
Saturday, 22 February 2025
Kick-off is at 19h30
Chelsea will be aiming to get their
Premier League top-four challenge back on track when they take on out-of-sorts Aston Villa at Villa Park on Saturday, February 22 in the late kick-off.
The Blues were viewed a title contenders at one stage after making an impressive start to life under Enzo Maresca, but their form has dipped in the last two months.
A disappointing 3-0 reverse at Brighton on February 14 was their fourth defeat since Christmas and Maresca's side dropped out of the UEFA Champions League places once more as Manchester City (4th) and Bournemouth (5th) climbed above them in the standings.
The Villans have enjoyed a fine return to Europe's elite club competition, but it came at the expense of their league form as they dropped yet more points in a 1-1 draw with relegation-threatened Ipswich on February 15.
Unai Emery's side have picked up just six points from their last five league games and are winless in four since beating Everton 1-0 on January 15.
Villa find themselves down in ninth spot, although they are only six points outside the top four and just five behind the West Londoners.
Emery will be sweating on the fitness of Boubacar Kamara, who was forced off through injury after just 16 minutes against the Tractor Boys. Ezri Konsa and Ross Barkley (calf) could come back into contention, but Pau Torres (ankle), Matty Cash, Amadou Onana (thigh) and Leon Bailey remain unavailable for selection.
Maresca remains without Marc Guiu, Nicolas Jackson, Romeo Lavia, Wesley Fofana, Benoit Badiashile, Omari Kellyman, Noni Madueke (all thigh) and Mykhailo Mudryk (suspension), although he could welcome back Malo Gusto.
Emery felt it was two points dropped against Ipswich, who played for an hour with just 10 men following the dismissal of Axel Tuanzebe for a second yellow card.
"We lost a very good opportunity, but we played aiming to win," the Spaniard said. "The first half was a tough match when it was 11v11. We weren't controlling the game like we are usually doing.
"They were with one player less after the sending-off and we were controlling the game, progressively dominating and creating chances.
"We have to continue improving and try to build a team in the vision I want. We deserved to win and the goalkeeper saved a lot of actions. We have to accept this point because they defended very well and competed very well."
Image Source: Alamy Stock Photo
Maresca described the performance at the Amex as their worst of the season as Chelsea missed out on the chance to put pressure on Nottingham Forest in the battle for third place.
"Probably since I arrived that is the worst performance, especially in the moment we are in. We are fourth in the league and winning tonight you can go one point from third and make the gap to the rest bigger," the Italian said.
"The performance is not one you want to offer, so we are very upset, and especially very sorry for the fans who were here, and in general to our fans, because in this moment you cannot offer this kind of performance with 14 games to go, now 13 games to go. In terms of desire, we need to show more."
Head-to-Head (Last Five Premier League Meetings)
Matches - 5
Aston Villa wins - 2
Chelsea wins - 2
Draws - 1
Premier League Matchday 26 fixtures:
Friday, February 21
22h00: Leicester City v Brentford
Saturday, February 22
14h30: Everton v Manchester United
17h00: Bournemouth v Wolverhampton Wanderers
17h00: Arsenal v West Ham United
17h00: Fulham v Crystal Palace
17h00: Ipswich Town v Tottenham Hotspur
17h00: Southampton v Brighton & Hove Albion
19h30: Aston Villa v Chelsea
Sunday, February 23
16h00: Newcastle United v Nottingham Forest
18h30: Manchester City v Liverpool
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