Chelsea vs Aston Villa: Can Villa Extend Their Winning Run to 11 Games?

The Premier League title race reaches a fever pitch this Saturday as high-flying Aston Villa travel to Stamford Bridge, eyeing a chance to end the weekend as joint leaders. 

Unai Emery’s men arrive in West London riding an incredible 10-match winning streak, a run that has transformed them from top-four hopefuls into genuine championship contenders.

History favors the visitors, as the Villans have secured victories in two of their last three trips to the Bridge. However, Emery must navigate several key absences, with Pau Torres and Tyrone Mings ruled out through injury, while Evann Guessand is away on AFCON duty.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca faces his own selection headaches, notably the absence of Levi Colwill and Romeo Lavia due to lingering knee and thigh issues. Furthermore, the Blues remain without Mykhaylo Mudryk, who continues to serve a provisional doping suspension, leaving a creative void in the final third.

Despite the injuries, both sides are expected to field star-studded lineups featuring the likes of Cole Palmer and Ollie Watkins. For Villa, a win would cement their status as the league's form team; for Chelsea, it is a crucial opportunity to halt a rival's momentum and climb back toward the European spots.

With the pressure mounting in the final fixtures of 2025, this clash promises to be a tactical chess match between two of the league’s most astute managers. All eyes will be on whether Villa’s defensive depth can withstand the flair of a Chelsea attack desperate for a statement win at home.