FA Cup: Chelsea vs Aston Villa Live
Preview
Chelsea is aiming to win both domestic cup competitions and is looking to advance to the fifth round of the FA Cup by facing Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge on Friday. Chelsea secured a place in the EFL Cup with a 6-1 victory over Middlesbrough, while Aston Villa also defeated Middlesbrough in the FA Cup third round.
Just two weeks after taking over as head coach of Paris Saint-Germain in January 2021, Mauricio Pochettino secured his first major managerial honor. Now, the Argentine is on the verge of winning his first trophy in English football, with Chelsea’s EFL Cup within reach. Despite his previous unsuccessful attempts to lead Tottenham Hotspur to silverware, Pochettino could claim the EFL Cup in his debut season at Stamford Bridge, following Chelsea’s impressive comeback to defeat Middlesbrough in the semi-finals. Chelsea’s dominant performance, including goals from Cole Palmer, an own goal by Jonathan Howson, a strike from Axel Disasi, an effort from Enzo Fernandez, and a closing attempt from Noni Madueke, secured their place in the final at Wembley.
However, before Chelsea fans can anticipate the Wembley final, Pochettino’s team must first win their FA Cup fourth-round tie, having comfortably defeated Preston North End 4-0 in the opening encounter. Chelsea’s victory over Middlesbrough marked their seventh consecutive home win across all competitions and their eighth consecutive win at Stamford Bridge in the FA Cup. Nevertheless, Pochettino, a seasoned knockout specialist, will be leading the visiting team from the dugout in the upcoming match.
Aston Villa celebrated a hard-fought victory over Middlesbrough in the FA Cup third-round tie. The winning goal came in the 87th minute when Matty Cash’s shot deflected off Emmanuel Latte Lath and found the back of the net, ending Aston Villa’s streak of seven successive third-round exits. This win marked only their second FA Cup victory since the 2014-15 final.
Despite their luck in the cup, Aston Villa’s Premier League match against Everton ended in a frustrating goalless draw, denying them a chance to move up in the standings. Looking ahead, Aston Villa will aim to break a 24-year streak without an FA Cup away win against a fellow top-flight team. Their recent successes against Chelsea offer hope for their future performances.
Head-to-head
Aston Villa secured a 1-0 victory on the road when they played at Stamford Bridge in September of last year in the Premier League. The blues has a strong history at home in this matchup, with 41 wins, 14 draws, and only 21 losses in the previous 76 meetings with Villa at Stamford Bridge.
Prediction
There should not be a repetition of Chelsea’s impressive performance against Middlesbrough this Friday, as Pochettino’s fatigued team faces an Aston Villa squad with 11 days of rest. However, Aston Villa has struggled with offensive effectiveness in their recent matches. Despite this, Chelsea has overcome their previous struggles at Stamford Bridge and has strong options for substitutions in all positions. We believe that the blues will secure another home victory and continue their pursuit of two cup titles.
