Chelsea vs Aston Villa prediction: ENGLAND: Premier League betting tips on match 2025-12-26 17:30.
[p]Saturday’s festive Premier League schedule concludes with a top-four clash between an inconsistent Chelsea and surprise title challengers Aston Villa, who are bidding to equal a club record here. [/p]
[p]Match News and Current Form[/p]
[p]After spending Christmas Day clinging onto fourth place, Chelsea will hope they have no post-Christmas hangover as the race for the Champions League spots intensifies. It could have been much more comfortable for Chelsea, but inconsistency across the previous five rounds (W1, D3, L1) has left them wanting, although they can perhaps cling to that sole win coming on home turf. Improving at Stamford Bridge will be key to Chelsea’s top-four charge as with two top-flight defeats there this season (W4, D2, L2), Maresca is at risk of losing more home league games than in his entire first full season (W12, D5, L2).[/p]
[p]Aston Villa arrive in the capital on the cusp of history as, after stitching together a run of ten competitive victories, Unai Emery’s men could equal the club record of 11 if they could overcome the odds once more. You have to look back to 1910 to find a longer run of top-flight league wins than Villa’s current seven-game streak, leaving their fans dreaming of a first title since 1981. Making those dreams become a reality would perhaps be much easier if Villa could start quicker on the road, where they’ve conceded first in the opening ten minutes in four of their last five league trips, but battling back to win each time shows they should never be written off. [/p]
[p]Head-to-Head History[/p]
[p]Chelsea’s 3-0 win in this fixture last season is their only victory across the five league meetings since Emery took charge of Villa (D1, L3). Prior to that win, Villa had won to nil on their last two league visits to Stamford Bridge.[/p]
[p]Hot Stats and Streaks[/p]
[p]Chelsea are unbeaten in league games against sides starting the day above them this season (W2, D1). [/p]
[p]Chelsea have conceded six of their seven home league goals this season after half-time. [/p]
[p]Aston Villa have won a league-high five games when conceding first this season (L3). [/p]
[p]Aston Villa haven’t led an away league game at half-time this season (HT: D4, L4). [/p]
[p]Key Players to Watch and Missing Players[/p]
[p]Chelsea’s Alejandro Garnacho has attempted 2+ shots in five of his last six league starts, and at least three shots in each of his last three starts against Villa. Villa’s Youri Tielemans has two goal contributions in his last three competitive games and famously scored Leicester’s winning goal in an FA Cup final against Chelsea back in 2021.[/p]
[p]Estêvão remains doubtful for Chelsea, while Villa’s Pau Torres is unlikely to feature for Villa. [/p]
[p]For all the latest team news, please check the Flashscore match centre.[/p]
[p]Betting Analysis[/p]
[p]With some incredible form on their side, a record-equalling Aston Villa win looks a tempting price.[/p]
[p][i]Author: Matthew Billon[/i][/p]