Aston Villa vs Chelsea in the Premier League is set for an exciting encounter tomorrow, Saturday, February 22, 2025, as Aston Villa hosts Chelsea at Villa Park in Birmingham. Kick-off is scheduled for 5:30 PM GMT. Both teams are eager to secure crucial points, making this match a must-watch for football enthusiasts.
Aston Villa’s Preparations and Team News
Aston Villa is gearing up for their third home game in eight days, hosting Chelsea at Villa Park. Manager Unai Emery is focusing on maintaining the team’s strong home form, which has been a highlight this season. The club has emphasized the importance of fan support during this busy period, encouraging supporters to create an electric atmosphere to boost the team’s performance.
Regarding team news, Villa is facing some injury concerns. Defenders Ezri Konsa and Leon Bailey are undergoing late fitness tests to determine their availability for the match. Their potential absence could impact the defensive lineup, with Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres expected to step up if needed.
Aston Villa’s Recent Form
Under the stewardship of Unai Emery, Aston Villa has demonstrated commendable form this season. Currently positioned ninth in the Premier League with 39 points from 26 matches (10 wins, 7 draws, and 9 losses), Villa has been particularly formidable at home. They have lost just once in their last 22 Premier League home games on Saturdays, boasting 16 wins and 5 draws.
Their attacking attempts have been greatly aided by key players like Emiliano Buendía and Ollie Watkins, but Tyrone Mings and goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez’s defensive prowess will be important in this match. Villa will want to play more fluidly in attack and tighten their defence under Unai Emery’s leadership, especially at home.
Chelsea’s Challenges and Manager’s Perspective
Chelsea is currently experiencing a challenging period, having secured only two wins in their last nine Premier League matches. This downturn has seen them drop to sixth place, just one point behind fourth-placed Manchester City. Manager Enzo Maresca has expressed his dissatisfaction with the team’s recent performances, emphasizing the need for improvement to achieve a top-four finish and secure titles.
He acknowledged that injuries to key players, including Nicolas Jackson, Chukwunonso Madueke, Romeo Lavia, and Wesley Fofana, have contributed to the team’s struggles. However, he remains optimistic about the team’s potential to turn their fortunes around.
In terms of team news, Chelsea will be without winger Noni Madueke for the upcoming match against Aston Villa due to a hamstring issue. This adds to the list of absentees, which already includes several players recovering from various injuries. Defender Malo Gusto has recovered from his injury and will be available for selection, providing a boost to the defensive options.
Chelsea’s Recent Form
Chelsea has been enduring a frustrating season, plagued by inconsistency under manager Enzo Maresca. Despite boasting a talented squad, they have struggled to string together a series of wins. In their last five Premier League matches, Chelsea has secured just two wins, one draw, and two losses.
Their most recent defeat came in a disappointing 3-0 loss to Brighton at the Amex Stadium. This loss was a heavy blow, as the Blues failed to mount any significant challenge, leaving many questioning their ability to challenge for European spots this season. However, Chelsea does have depth in their squad with stars like Christopher Nkunku, Enzo Fernandez, and Reece James, who can turn things around with strong individual performances.
Aston Villa, as of February 21, 2025, is comfortably positioned in the middle of the table because to a combination of strong defensive and shrewd attacking play. With noteworthy wins over teams in the top half of the table, their recent play has been admirable. Chelsea, on the other hand, is currently in sixth position in the Premier League after suffering a decline in play.
There are questions over the team’s consistency because they have only won two of their last nine games. Enzo Maresca, the manager, has voiced his displeasure with the recent performance and underlined how crucial it is to seek for a top-four finish.
Aston villa vs Chelsea team News & Injury
For this game, Aston Villa will be missing a number of important players. Due to the conditions of his loan agreement, Axel Disasi is unable to play for his parent club. Leon Bailey (match fitness) and Ezri Konsa (knock) are also nearing a comeback, though they might not be ready to begin.
Amadou Onana (hamstring), Boubacar Kamara (thigh), Ross Barkley (calf), and Pau Torres (ankle) are among the other players who are not playing. Emiliano Martinez will start in goal for manager Unai Emery’s 4-2-3-1 lineup, which will also include Tyrone Mings, Andres Garcia, Lamare Bogarde, and Lucas Digne on defence.
Youri Tielemans and John McGinn will be the midfield duo, and Morgan Rogers will be the attacking midfielder. Ollie Watkins will spearhead the assault, with flanked by Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio at his sides.
Chelsea is in a difficult position as well because several players are out. A hamstring injury has placed Noni Madueke on the disabled list. Romeo Lavia, Marc Guiu, Omari Kellyman, Benoit Badiashile, Wesley Fofana, and Nicolas Jackson are among the other athletes recuperating from hamstring strains. Mykhailo Mudryk is still not allowed to work.
The system that manager Enzo Maresca is most likely to use is 4-2-3-1, with Filip Jorgensen in goal. Marc Cucurella, Tosin Adarabioyo, Levi Colwill, and Reece James are anticipated to make up the defence. The midfield will be anchored by Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez, with Cole Palmer serving as the attacking midfielder. Christopher Nkunku is expected to spearhead the assault, with Pedro Neto and Jadon Sancho playing on the wings.
Recent Form and Head-to-Head
With four draws and one loss in their last five games, Aston Villa has recently seen a decline in their play. They have, however, been extremely strong at home, winning 16 of their previous 22 Saturday Premier League home games and drawing five. Chelsea, on the other hand, has had a difficult season, winning just twice and losing four of their last nine league games. With three straight losses and no wins in their last six away games across all competitions, their recent away performance has been especially worrisome.
Historically, Chelsea has had the upper hand in this fixture, leading the head-to-head record with 70 wins to Aston Villa’s 60. In their most recent encounter in December 2024, Chelsea secured a 3-0 victory at Stamford Bridge.
As the match between Aston Villa and Chelsea approaches, both teams are facing unique challenges. Aston Villa is striving to maintain their strong home form despite injury concerns, while Chelsea is working to overcome a series of disappointing results and player absences. The outcome of this match could have significant implications for both clubs’ positions in the Premier League, making it a highly anticipated fixture for fans and neutrals alike.
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[…] Aston Villa 2-1 Chelsea at Villa Park, on February 22, 2025, with Marco Asensio scoring both goals for Villa. Enzo Fernández gave Chelsea the lead in the ninth minute, but Villa rallied for a powerful comeback in the second half. A key contributor, Marcus Rashford, who had joined Villa on loan from Manchester United in early February, assisted on both of Asensio’s goals. […]