Location: London, England
Location: London, England
Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Date & Kick-off Time: Dec 27 – 11:00 pm IST
Total matches: 62
Chelsea won: 32
Aston Villa won: 15
Draws: 15
Man City and Arsenal registered victories as they kept up their winning run going but Unai Emery's Aston Villa need to win at Stamford Bridge, to keep up the pace with the top two. It won't be easy, as Chelsea are yet to taste defeat in their last 5 games at the Bridge.
Aston Villa get things underway.
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa 1'
Great tempo to the game and it's set by the home team. Enzo Maresca, who is not on the sidelines due to suspension, will want a victory against Villa.
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa 7'
Chelsea have 76.2% of the ball in the early proceedings as Villa sit deep. Emery is known to attack the ball on the counter and will rely mostly on their star man, Morgan Rogers.
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa 11'
One can sense that a goal will come sooner rather than later. The Blues are all over the Villans and Unai Emery's side must respond if they are to get back in the contest.
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa 18'
The chances continue to fall for Chelsea. Whereas Emery continues to bark orders from the sidelines but nothing happening for the away team.
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa 21'
Emery wearing a worried look on the sidelines with his side under the pump at the Bridge. Garnacho has found joy on the Villa's right hand side as AVFC sit deep in their own half.
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa 26'
In a way, Aston Villa are missing their forward Ollie Watkins, who has been on goal-scoring form off late. Dutch forward Malen cannot hold up ball well and it falls back to the hosts.
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa 34'
Joao Pedro has been given the credit for the goal. Blues' skipper Reece James whips in a ball and Villa cannot defend as it falls to one of the CFC player notably Pedro, who puts it back of the net.
Chelsea 1-0 Aston Villa 36'
Jon Champion on-air mentions that if it stays till HT, it will be the first time this season under Emery that his side have not registered a shot on target.
Chelsea 1-0 Aston Villa 42'
John McGinn's free-kick is straight at Robert Sanchez and that's HT.
Chelsea 1-0 Aston Villa
Villa's winning form under threat as Chelsea start proceedings in the second half at the Bridge. Is Aston Villa's winning run coming to an end?
Chelsea 1-0 Aston Villa 46'
Blues break on the counter with Davison Sanchez releasing Cole Palmer ends up teeing Alejandro Garnacho for an easy tap-in but John McGinn clears off the line.
Chelsea 1-0 Aston Villa 54'
Morgan Rogers and Reece James get in the book for tussling in the penalty area. A counter ensues with Garnacho receiving the ball but the former Man United man fires over the bar. Elsewhere, Emery rings in the changes.
Chelsea 1-0 Aston Villa 57'
On: Ollie Watkins, Jadon Sancho and Amadou Onana.
Off: Emiliano Buendía, John McGinn and Donyell Malen.
Blues are made to pay for their wastefulness as Villa equalise via their sub, Ollie Watkins. A poor first-half is forgotten as the visitors have their noses ahead.
Chelsea 1-1 Aston Villa 63'
Wow! Out of no where, Villa are top here and how. Unai Emery's side produce a moment of quality as they sneak through with Morgan Rogers teeing up Ian Maatsen, who's effort is saved by Sanchez.
Chelsea 1-1 Aston Villa 66'
Ollie Watkins' introduction has seen Villa reinvigorated. They look a different side to the one that was playing the 1st half.
Chelsea 1-1 Aston Villa 70'
Villa's phase of domination has phased out with Chelsea now upping the tempo and look to build attack after attack on the Villa goal. They have introduced some new players but no goal yet.
Chelsea 1-1 Aston Villa 80'
X'mas cheer for Villa as they go from zero to hero. Ollie Watkins' introduction sees them now take the lead and are heading to the game against Arsenal, with title race on the line.
Chelsea 1-2 Aston Villa 83'
If Villa were a Hollywood movie, then it would be 'Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde'. Yes, that one! First half performance and the one in the second, has contrasting perfomances.
Chelsea 1-2 Aston Villa 86'
Blues were well on top in the first half but their lack of cutting edge and finishing off opponent has seen them fall behind and probably cost them the game.
Chelsea 1-2 Aston Villa 90+1'
Chelsea 1-2 Aston Villa