Chelsea head to Villa Park this weekend looking to get back to winning ways after what has been a poor spell of form.
Enzo Maresca has come under scrutiny in recent weeks with his side winning just three of their last 11 matches in all competitions.
Chelsea sit sixth in the Premier League table, one point off the top four, as they aim to make a return to the Champions League under Maresca.
The Blues lost 3-0 to Brighton last time out in what was one of their poorest games of the season. It doesn’t get any easier either as they head to play an Aston Villa side who recently held league leaders Liverpool to a draw during the week.
Good news for the Blues is that defender Malo Gusto looks set to return from injury, however, the likes of Noni Madueke, Benoit Badiashile, Romeo Lavia and Wesley Fofana are all expected to be out for Saturday’s match.
Click here to see our predicted XI for the Blues, as Maresca will also need to find a solution without striker Nicolas Jackson, who continues to recover from a hamstring injury.
Chelsea and Villa almost a dead heat in the betting odds
The two sides are separated by just four points in the table, as Villa sit in ninth place, looking to get back in contention for a Champions League spot next season. The Blues are expected to beat them, but very narrowly.
According to Oddschecker, Chelsea are favourites to win at odds of 13/8, giving them a 38.1% chance to win on Saturday. Meanwhile, Villa are backed at 17/10 (37%), and a draw is backed at 11/4 (26.7%).
We predict a 2-2 draw as both sides aren’t shy of scoring goals. Both teams’ weakness comes in defence and so it could make for an entertaining affair.
Where to watch the Blues’ trip to Villa Park
The game kicks off at 5.30 pm on Saturday 22 February, and will be available to watch on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football. Subscribers to Now TV will also be able to view the game.
Highlights will be posted to the Sky Sports YouTube channel after the game, and BBC One will broadcast highlights of all the day’s action in the Premier League at 10.30 pm for Match of the Day.
Click here to see the full Chelsea first team squad for the 2024/25 season.
