Chelsea vs Aston Villa: Premier League match preview
A look ahead to Saturday’s Premier League fixture at Stamford Bridge
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Your support makes all the difference.Chelsea edged past Championship side Bolton Wanderers 2-1 in the League Cup at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night, continuing the Blues’ fruitful spell under manager Jose Mourinho.
They are unbeaten in all competitions this season, currently sitting top of the Premier League after four wins from their opening five league games, with last Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Manchester City halting their winning streak.
Meanwhile Aston Villa have enjoyed a similarly fantastic start to the season, winning three of their opening four league games before suffering their first defeat of the season against Arsenal last weekend.
The Gunners hit three goals past Paul Lambert’s side in under 200 seconds at Villa Park to condemn the hosts to a 3-0 defeat, seeing Villa slip to third in the league table, three points behind Saturday’s opponents.
KICK-OFF: Saturday, 3pm
PAST THREE MEETINGS…
Aston Villa 1 (Delph) Chelsea 0, Premier League, March 2014
Chelsea 2 (Luna OG, Ivanovic) Aston Villa 1 (Benteke), Premier League, August 2013
Aston Villa 1 (Benteke) Chelsea 2 (Lampard 2), Premier League, May 2013
STATS…
Diego Costa is the Premier League’s top goalscorer this season with seven goals from five appearances.
Chelsea are unbeaten in their last six games in all competitions so far this season.
Chelsea are the top-flight’s highest scoring team so far this season with 16 goals from five games.
Arsenal are the only other side in the Premier League that hasn’t lost a league game this season.
Aston Villa have the joint second best defence in the Premier League along with Burnley after conceding just four goals so far this season, only Southampton have conceded less (3).
Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic has scored four goals in his last four starts against Aston Villa.
Saturday’s game at Stamford Bridge will be the 149 meeting between the two sides, with both Chelsea and Aston Villa recording 57 wins each.
ODDS…
Chelsea to win: 1.22
Aston Villa to win: 11
Draw: 7
CLASSIC MOMENT/MATCH
Chelsea gifted themselves an early Christmas present just two days before Christmas Day back in December 2012 after hammering Aston Villa 8-0 at Stamford Bridge to climb up to third in the Premier League table.
The Blues were three-nil ahead at the break after Fernando Torres, David Luiz and Branislav Ivanovic all fired past the helpless Brad Guzan.
The hosts then fired in five second-half goals to complete the rout, with Frank Lampard, Ramires (2), Oscar and Eden Hazard all getting their names on the scoresheet.
TV: Highlights on BBC 1 from 10.30pm on Saturday.
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