NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 20: Joao Pedro of Chelsea celebrates scoring his team's second goal with teammate Wesley Fofana during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Chelsea at St James' Park on December 20, 2025 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)
A crucial match in the Premier League takes place at Stamford Bridge on Saturday evening, with Chelsea looking to stop Aston Villa’s impressive title run.
Aston Villa arrives in West London with a remarkable record, having won their last 10 matches across all competitions, placing them third, just three points behind leaders Arsenal. A win would match their all-time record of 11 consecutive victories.
Chelsea sits fourth, seven points behind Villa, struggling with only one win in their last four league games. Following a 2-2 draw against Newcastle, another loss could jeopardize their chances of Champions League qualification.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca announced that young defender Jorrel Hato will miss the match due to an injury suffered during warm-ups against Newcastle. Jamie Gittens returns to the squad after a shoulder issue, along with Liam Delap and Estêvão Willian. The squad is mostly fit aside from Levi Colwill, Dário Essugo, and Roméo Lavia. Enzo Fernández, leading the team in created chances, is set to play an advanced role.
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery will be without winger Evann Guessand, who is attending the Africa Cup of Nations. However, Jadon Sancho is expected to return after being unavailable against Manchester United. Key players Tyrone Mings, Pau Torres, and Ross Barkley are still out, and Harvey Elliott may miss the game due to illness. Morgan Rogers, who has scored four goals in his last two matches, will support Ollie Watkins.
Chelsea has faced challenges at Stamford Bridge this season, losing league games at home to Brighton and Sunderland. The team’s top scorers, Pedro Neto and João Pedro, have only managed five goals each, reflecting a lack of finishing. However, recent clean sheets in home wins against Wolves and Everton indicate improved defensive organization under Maresca.
Aston Villa is currently the most successful team in the country, winning 11 of their last 12 Premier League matches. Under Emery, they have won 12 out of 21 away games against London teams, a significant improvement from past results in the capital. Morgan Rogers has been in exceptional form, with 10 goal contributions this season—more than any other English player in the league.
Chelsea predicted XI: Sánchez; James, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella; Fernández, Caicedo; Neto, Palmer, Garnacho; João Pedro
Aston Villa predicted XI: Martínez; Cash, Konsa, Lindelöf, Maatsen; Kamara, Onana; McGinn, Tielemans, Rogers; Watkins
The match will be live in the UK on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, starting coverage at 17:00 GMT.
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