Chelsea will look to put an end to their dismal run of form when they visit Aston Villa. After exchanging goals in a goalless draw in West London, the teams reassembled at Villa Park. The midweek winner faces either Plymouth Argyle or Leeds United at home.
Preview (Aston Villa vs. Chelsea)
Before Aston Villa arrived for their knockout match on January 26, Chelsea had strengthened the walls of their besieged Stamford Bridge stronghold. Despite the Blues’ abundant possession at their West London home, neither team was able to punch a direct ticket to round five. With just one point from games against Everton and Newcastle United, Aston Villa’s crop under Nou Emery had all but vanished from the Premier League title race heading into this weekend’s match against Sheffield United. The dull draw in the capital was the second of three games without a victory for the team.
But the Lions improved their Champions League record with a convincing 5-0 victory in front of the disheartened Bramall Lane supporters, who saw Emery’s ruthless charges score four goals in the first thirty minutes before Alex Moreno’s exquisitely placed volley capped a five-star showing. Fourth-place Villa still has a five-point deficit to close to the league leaders after Arsenal. Emery’s former team helped their former coach by defeating Liverpool the day before. However, their Europa League-winning manager will now have to indulge his habit of winning cups once more.
Aston Villa’s victory over Middlesbrough in their FA Cup debut match is their best result in the competition since 2015–16. Before 2023–24, the Villas had seven consecutive third-round exits; however, since making it to the 2014–15 final, the Lions had not advanced past the fourth round. Aston Villa lost 4-0 to Arsenal, the 14-time winners of the FA Cup, on that tragic day at Wembley. Wolverhampton Wanderers hadn’t won the league double against the Blues since the 1974–75 season. Gary O’Neil’s clinical charges ended that 49-year run on Sunday. Matheus Cunha’s incredible hat trick and an own goal by Axel Disasi made Cole Palmer and Thiago Silva’s efforts meaningless.
Team News
Morgan Rogers, who came off the bench at Bramall Lane, was taken out of the Riverside Stadium by Villa after the Championship team had already eliminated Middlesbrough from the FA Cup in the third round. However, the winger is cup-tied for this match. In addition, Emery will have a lot of fitness issues to deal with ahead of Wednesday’s rematch. Emi Buendia (knee), Tyrone Mings (knee), or Jon Duran (hamstring) will not be back for months.
After having his contract torn up, Bertrand Traore also left for Villarreal on a free transfer. Following a convincing win at Bramall Lane, Emery shouldn’t feel the need to change the lineup. Matty Cash and Moussa Diaby will benefit. At this point, Chelsea’s medical center is also overflowing with patients undergoing individual rehabilitation programs, including Lesley Ugochukwu (hamstring), Wesley Fofana (knee), Robert Sanchez (knee), Reece James (thigh), Marc Cucurella (ankle), and Romeo Lavia (quadriceps).
Trevoh Chalobah (thigh) is back in squad training but will be allowed time to regain his match fitness. He has missed every game of the season. Levi Colwill (tendon) is also seen to have very little chance of returning to the West Midlands. Following a disastrous Premier League showing, Pochettino will undoubtedly take a close look at several alterations. Carney Chukwuemeka, Benoit Badiashile, Mykhaylo Mudryk, and Nicolas Jackson—returning from the Africa Cup of Nations—struggle for a starting position.
Aston Villa 3-1 Chelsea
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