Aston Villa v Chelsea – Premier League preview, team news, expected lineups, how to watch on TV and prediction

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Match Preview

This game features two sides whose hopes of finishing in a European spot would be boosted enormously by three points.

Aston Villa start the weekend in ninth place and need to retrain their focus on to league matters after today’s draw for the last 16 of the Champions League paired them with Club Brugge. It was the perfect draw for Unai Emery’s men but the Spaniard has expressed his disappointment with Villa’s league form after successive home draws with Ipswich and Liverpool.

Villa were poor against the 10-man Tractor Boys but performed well in midweek against Arne Slot’s league leaders.

A similar performance to that they produced against the Merseysiders may be enough against a Chelsea side who have struggled of late.

Enzo Maresca’s men were dreadful at Brighton last Friday and come into this contest having won just two of their last nine league games.

They start the weekend in sixth place but knowing they can afford few slip-ups with Bournemouth and Newcastle in good form.

Watch Unai’s press conference in full now on VillaTV 📺

— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial)

Team News for Aston Villa v Chelsea

Emery will be hoping centre-half Ezri Konsa is declared fit after injury, especially with Axel Disasi ineligible against his parent club.

Ross Barkley, Amadou Onana and Boubacar Kamara are all absent.

Chelsea will be without England winger Noni Madueke after he sustained a hamstring injury against Brighton that will keep him out until after the international break.

Christopher Nkunku will likely start again in the false nine role with Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu injured.