Chelsea FC vs Aston Villa FC, Premier League 2022-2023, Today Match Prediction

Chelsea FC vs Aston Villa FC Match Prediction & Analysis

While Chelsea and Aston Villa find themselves in 10th and 11th place respectively, both teams will hope that they are on the up.

Chelsea have finally found some form under Graham Potter, who has delivered two wins from his last three games and discovered some rhythm from his squad.

There is still much work to do for the much-criticised team and a European spot is out of reach this season. That said, there is the opportunity to build some momentum with Real Madrid upcoming in the Champions League.

Aston Villa continue their impressive turnaround under Unai Emery. The dark days of Steven Gerrard’s reign now seem a distant memory and then push forward for a top-half finish.

They have some tough fixtures remaining this season and it’ll be a good test of their current level.

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Chelsea FC Preview

Reasons to be cheerful:

     Won nine of their last 11 against Villa

     Won two of their last three in the league – as many as in the previous 15

Reasons to be fearful:

     The likes of Sterling, Fofana, Azpilicueta and Thiago are out injured

     Villa carry a threat and could trouble them defensively

For Chelsea, the international break may have come at the wrong time, with the club just starting to pull together a good run of form under Graham Potter.

The Blues now face a tricky run of fixtures, with Liverpool following this game, two games against Real Madrid in the Champions League and then Brighton and Arsenal before the end of April.

It’ll be a good test for this Chelsea side, to show whether they are ready to kick on under Potter or whether the old issues remain.

They could be tested by Aston Villa this weekend, particularly without Thiago Silva and Wesley Fofana in defence.

Mason Mount is pushing for a start, while Havertz and Reece James will both play.

Star Man – Kai Havertz

The German international has stepped up for Chelsea lately, scoring in each of his team’s last three games, all of which ended in victory.

Aston Villa FC Preview

Reasons to be cheerful

     Three wins from their last four

     Only three teams have earned more points than Villa under Emery

Reasons to be fearful

     Could be the wrong time to face Chelsea

     Matty Cash will miss the next two or three weeks

On current form, it would appear that Aston Villa are likely to finish inside the top half at the end of the season, although they cannot afford to fall away now.

They have done excellently under Emery – only Arsenal and both Manchester clubs have earned more points than them since the Spaniard arrived.

Villa must now take that next leap and push forward, with the likes of Liverpool and Brighton only four points above them.

On a positive note, Boubacar Kamara and Leander Dendoncker are set to return here, although full-back Matty Cash will miss the next few weeks through injury.

Star Man – Ollie Watkins

While Watkins’ excellent scoring run ended with Villa’s win over Bournemouth, he remains Villa’s top scorer this season and contributes in every game he plays right now.