Chelsea vs Aston Villa
Let’s cut to the Premier League chase this Christmas time – neither Chelsea nor Aston Villa are going to win the title this season. Nor should anyone expect Villa to, although the same can’t be said of Chelsea given their outlay over the last three years.
Realistically, though, neither side is ready to turn Premier League 2025 highlights into silverware. That said, while I’m convinced neither will be kings this term, they both have the capacity to be kingmakers.
Talking Points
Since a standout success over Barcelona in the Champions League last month, Chelsea have just two wins in seven in all competitions. Those were at home to Everton in the league and third-tier in the League Cup.
By contrast, Villa are on a mission to make it 11 straight wins across all competitions. They enjoyed a deserved 2-1 home success over Manchester United last weekend when Morgan Rogers, a player who has caught my eye, scored both goals.
After a slow start to the season, anyone who doubted the Villans being at the sharp end once more is being proved wrong. They have enjoyed home victories over both the top two, Arsenal and Manchester City, and head into Christmas weekend with the chance to equal a 128-year club record.
Not only have Villa won 16 of their last 18 matches in all competitions, but they have also prevailed in their last 10. While they last emerged victorious in 11 consecutive games in 1914, they first set that feat back in 1897. Furthermore, Villa have won their last seven Premier League games. The last time that they had such a run was at the back end of 1910.
They have big names missing, with former Chelsea midfielder Ross Barkley out until February and centre-backs Pau Torres and Tyrone Mings sidelined with calf and hamstring issues, respectively.
There could be returns, though, for Jadon Sancho – who was ineligible to face parent club United – and fellow loanee Harvey Elliott, who was ruled out of last weekend through illness.
As for Enzo Maresca’s hosts, who fought back from 2-0 down to draw at Newcastle last Saturday, talented teenager Estevao (muscular) is due to return to the squad and could also be joined by frontman Liam Delap (shoulder), a summer signing from Ipswich who has not settled or shown consistent form since swapping Anglia for west London.
Chelsea may be fourth in the table, but they are currently seven points behind Villa and will be aware of the importance of securing points in this and another home match against Bournemouth before the end of the year.
As for Villa, they are actually on the cusp of a title tilt, helped by the snip £16 million signing of Rogers from Middlesbrough in 2024 – one of the bargains of the recent Premier League era.
History
Until Roman Abramovich breezed into town in the summer of 2003 and shifted the landscape of English football, Villa held the upper hand in this fixture.
That quickly changed as the free-spending billionaire turned Chelsea from pretenders into the finished article. Indeed, in the 45 meetings between the sides in all competitions since then, Villa have only won on 10 occasions. Yet that includes three of the last seven and three of the last five in the Premier League.
Last season, Chelsea were 3-0 winners in this league fixture, courtesy of Nicolas Jackson, Enzo Fernandez, and Cole Palmer. Villa won the return fixture in February this year, though, when the on-loan midfielder Marco Asensio netted twice after Fernandez had opened the scoring at Villa Park.
You have to go back to the former Division One and 1990 to the last time Villa, then managed by Graham Taylor, enjoyed a league double over the west Londoners.
Overall, Villa have triumphed 61 times in their meetings with 70 Chelsea victories and 37 draws.
Betting Tip
If you fancy a repeat of the corresponding fixture last term, our SBOTOP Premier League 2025 betting odds will ensure you are in line for a bumper festive pay day. That is because Correct Score 3-0 will pay out @ 18.00. On saying that, another 2-1 Villa success is available at an attractive @ 12.50 too.
The home side have the edge and are priced 1X2 @ 1.90 and Asian Handicap -0.75 @ 2.17, compared to Villa 1X2 @ 3.53 and Asian Handicap +0.25 @ 2.38.
The draw is on offer @ 3.43, and that is the exact result I am going for.
Other bets to take a closer look at include Over 3.00 goals @ 2.16, Total Goal 0-1 @ 3.75, 2-3 @ 2.04, and 4-6 @ 2.86.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT)
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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