The festive football schedule continues at Stamford Bridge today, Saturday, December 27, 2025, as Chelsea host Aston Villa in a high-stakes 5:30 PM GMT kick-off.
This is a true "six-pointer" in the race for Champions League football. Unai Emery’s Aston Villa currently sit in 3rd place, boasting a seven-point cushion over Enzo Maresca’s 4th-placed Chelsea. While Villa are on a historic 10-game winning streak in all competitions, Chelsea are looking to make home advantage count and close the gap on the North Midlands side.
Match Details
Competition: Premier League (Matchday 18)
Kick-off: 17:30 GMT
Venue: Stamford Bridge, London
Referee: Stuart Attwell | VAR: Paul Howard
Current Form: The "Perfect Ten" vs. The Bridge Fortress
Chelsea: Finding Consistency
The Blues enter this fixture following a dramatic 2-2 draw at Newcastle, where they fought back from two goals down. Under Enzo Maresca, Chelsea has turned Stamford Bridge into a difficult place to visit, having won 12 home Premier League games in 2025. The integration of Joao Pedro—who scored against Newcastle—has added a clinical edge to an attack already sparkling with the talent of Cole Palmer.
Aston Villa: The Form Team of Europe
Unai Emery has transformed Villa into a relentless machine. They arrive at the Bridge on the back of five consecutive Premier League wins, including a 2-1 victory over Manchester United. Morgan Rogers has been the standout performer, tallying 10 goal contributions this term, while the defensive partnership of Ezri Konsa and Victor Lindelöf has remained resolute despite injuries to key personnel.
Team News & Predicted Lineups
Chelsea Team News
Enzo Maresca confirmed a double fitness boost: Estêvão and Liam Delap are both available after muscle and shoulder injuries respectively. However, Jorrel Hato is ruled out after a warm-up injury last week, and Levi Colwill remains a long-term absentee.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; James, Chalobah, Fofana, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Neto, Palmer, Garnacho; Pedro.
Aston Villa Team News
Villa are without Pau Torres (Calf) and Tyrone Mings, meaning Victor Lindelöf will continue in defense. Evann Guessand is unavailable following a late call-up to the Ivory Coast squad for AFCON.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Lindelöf, Maatsen; Kamara, Onana; McGinn, Tielemans, Rogers; Watkins.
Head-to-Head: Emery’s Edge
Aston Villa has recently become a "bogey team" for the Blues, especially under Unai Emery's guidance.
Recent History: Aston Villa have won three of their last five Premier League games against Chelsea.
Last Meeting: Aston Villa 2–1 Chelsea (February 22, 2025).
Last at the Bridge: Chelsea 3–0 Aston Villa (December 1, 2024).
Tactical Analysis: Control vs. Chaos
The Palmer Factor
Chelsea’s success hinges on Cole Palmer’s ability to find space between Villa’s midfield and defensive lines. With Enzo Fernández likely returning to the starting XI to provide deep-lying playmaking, Chelsea will aim to dominate possession and use Alejandro Garnacho’s pace to stretch Villa's high line.
The Rogers-Watkins Threat
Villa’s game plan revolves around the physical presence and technical brilliance of Morgan Rogers. By dropping deep, Rogers pulls defenders out of position, creating channels for Ollie Watkins to exploit. Chelsea's defense, led by Trevor Chalobah, must remain disciplined to avoid being caught on the counter-attack—a specialty of Emery’s side.
Match Prediction
This is a clash between the league's most in-form side and a Chelsea team that is notoriously difficult to beat at home. While Villa's momentum is terrifying, Chelsea's depth and the return of key attackers like Estêvão suggest a very even contest. Neither side will want to lose ground in the top-four race.
Final Score Prediction: Chelsea 2–2 Aston Villa
