Date: Sunday 1st
December 2024
Venue: Stamford Bridge
Kick-off: 13:30 GMT
After a less that easy 2-0 win in the Conference League
against Heidenheim Thursday night, today’s early game sees us face Aston Villa
who drew 1-1 with Juventus in the Champions League on Tuesday.
We beat Leicester City last weekend and sat second in the
table but after yesterday’s games, come into the lunchtime fixture 5th
in the table. Villa, who drew with Palace in their last League game, are 9th
but with only 3 points less than us.
Whilst the visitors arrive on a 7-game run without a win,
Chelsea have the lowest win percentage at home so far this season, with just 9
points from 22 at Stamford Bridge, so the Villains will know they are by no
means visiting a fortress today.
There’ll be the usual wholesale changes for us today from
the side that played on Thursday, but whoever comes in will need to be alert to
Ollie Watkins, who enjoys a goal at Stamford Bridge, whilst our attacking
players need to take full advantage of the leak Villa appear to have recently
developed in their defence if we want to stop them making it 4 games unbeaten
at Stamford Bridge.
.
MANAGER’S VIEWS
Going into
today’s game, Enzo Maresca says “I see Aston Villa as a very good team. In
the last two or three years, especially with their new manager [Unai Emery] and
sporting director. They played Juventus; they’re playing Champions League
already. For sure, they are there and want to be there. I still think City will
be there. Arsenal, for sure, will be there. Liverpool will be there. There are
not many spots. We are going to try and compete every game and then we will see
where we are.
I said
many times; for sure, in terms of results and the way we want to play, we are
above my expectation, no doubt. But the good thing is we are there, and we will
try and be there as much as we can. We can help things and improve players.”
Aston
Villa manager Unai Emery says “He (Maresca) did a fantastic job last year at
Leicester and the opportunity he has now, he has been very good as well. 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.”
SQUAD NEWS
For Chelsea, captain Reece James (hamstring)
remains out. Pedro Neto picked up a knock on international duty but is expected
to be available
For Aston Villa, Jacob Ramsey remains out,
but Amadou Onana (foot) could be involved. Boubacar Kamara returned in midweek and
Ezri Konsa is also expected to play.
TEAMS
CHELSEA (Possible line-up): Sanchez; Gusto, Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Madueke,
Palmer, Neto; Jackson
ASTON VILLA
(Possible line-up): Martinez;
Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Kamara, Tielemans; Bailey, McGinn, Rogers; Watkins
LAST SEASON
Chelsea 0-1 Aston Villa
(24th September 2023)
CURRENT FORM (PL)
CHELSEA: DLWDDW
ASTON VILLA: DWDLLD
OTHER STUFF
- Aston
Villa have beaten Chelsea in the last 2 meetings at Stamford Bridge.
- Chelsea
haven’t kept a clean sheet in their last six home games.
- Villa are
without a win in seven games in all competitions.
- Chelsea
have the lowest percentage of home wins so far this season (41%).
- Villa
lost all three competitive away games in November.
PREDICTION
Sportsmole: Chelsea 2-1 Aston Villa
