Aston Villa vs Chelsea Preview

Unai Emery says Aston Villa are “trying every day to recover our good form and confidence” as the Villans prepare for a “tough” match with fellow European qualification contenders Chelsea at Villa Park on Wednesday.

Villa were eight points off fourth place – the position they now occupy – after a 2-0 win at Newcastle on January 25 but have won one of six domestic matches since losing 2-0 to bottom club Wolves on Friday, while tensions between some of Emery’s players and the visiting fans were evident after full-time.

“It’s a fantastic test,” said the Spaniard. “Playing at home with our supporters, I think, is better. We have to bring our energy to them and our desire, our attitude, our skill, and try to connect with them, (which starts) from our side.

“When we don’t score goals, it’s not just the strikers’ responsibility – it’s the team’s (and it’s) my responsibility.

“(It’s about) how I can improve things (inspiring) strikers or wingers with scoring chances.”

Ollie at the double, in the reverse fixture 🤜🤜 pic.twitter.com/PKh1uJ6kev

— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) March 3, 2026

Villa are six points above sixth-placed Chelsea, who have taken two points from their last four league matches and lost 2-1 at Arsenal on Sunday.

“The reason they score great goals is because they have great attacking players,” visiting head coach Liam Rosenier said of Villa’s propensity to strike from distance.

“We show our players clips; our players know the strengths and weaknesses of everyone they’re up against.

“(Villa) are very clinical in terms of the (expected goals) they create and the value of the goals they score. They will react from their last result.”

Aston Villa vs Chelsea Team News

Defender Andres Garcia (hamstring) and midfielders John McGinn and Boubacar Kamara (both knees) and Youri Tielemans (ankle) are out for Villa, as is winger Harvey Elliott.

“We need other leaders,” said EmoryCaptain McGinn called it “very important”. “It’s getting progressively better but we have enough players to maintain our consistency, get our performance (level up) and feel comfortable.

“Even when we don’t get (it), I continue to believe in them.”

Chelsea full-back Marc Cucurella could return and Rosenier said midfielder Romeo Lavia was “close to starting”, with both players recovering from hamstring injuries.

Centre-back Wesley Fofana is available after suspension but wideman Pedro Neto is banned after picking up two yellow cards at the Emirates Stadium.

“Pedro apologized to the group,” Rosenier said. “I need to see an improvement in behavior now.

“It’s not just Pedro. People talk about dissent and we’ve had unnecessary bookings in terms of fouls.

“If we want to improve and get to where we want to be, we have to take a conscious step to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

Willian Estevao has returned to training following a hamstring problem and fellow winger Jamie Gittens is “progressing well with his rehabilitation” from the same problem.

Playmaker Cole Palmer was substituted with a knock against Arsenal but is fit. Centre-back Levi Colville is recovering from a serious knee injury.

Aston Villa vs Chelsea predicted line-ups

Aston Villa Starting XI: Emiliano Martinez; Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Pau Torres, Lucas Digne; Amadou Onana, Douglas Luiz; Jadon Sancho, Morgan Rodgers, Emiliano Buendia; Ollie Watkins

Chelsea starting XI: Robert Sanchez; Reece James, Trevoh Chaloba, Wesley Fofana, Jorel Hato; Moises Caicedo, Romeo Lavia; Alejandro Garnacho, Enzo Fernandez, Cole Palmer; João Pedro

Where to watch Villa vs Chelsea: TV channel, live stream online

Kick-off on Wednesday is at 19:30 (14:30 ET / 11:30 PT). Live TV coverage in the UK is on TNT Sports 3 and the Discovery Plus app.

TNT Sports by Discovery Plus costs £29.99 a month, includes Eurosport and entertainment and is available on a wide range of devices including smart TVs and gaming consoles.

Aston Villa vs Chelsea Stats

• Following their 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge earlier this season, Villa Looking to complete the league double over Chelsea for the first time since the 1989/90 campaign
• won their last two Premier League matches against ChelseaVilla are looking for three consecutive league wins against the Blues for the first time since a run of four between 1978 and 1984.
• Villa have won one of their last four Premier League home games (D1 L2), having previously won eight in a row.
• The Villans have scored two goals from 76 shots (2.6% conversion rate) and 6.0 Expected Goals in their last four at Villa Park.
• Emery’s side have won two of their last eight Premier League games (D3 L3), conceding five goals (0.6 per game) along the way. They had won 13 of their previous 15 before this (L2), averaging 2.1 goals per game.
• Ollie Watkins has scored four goals in his last six Premier League games against Chelsea, all at Stamford Bridge. The striker scored both goals in their 2–1 win in the reverse fixture in December, with Anwar Al-Ghazi becoming the last Villa player to score home and away against the Blues in a league season (2020/21).
• Tammy Abraham, who scored 21 goals in 58 Premier League appearances for Chelsea, is looking to score in back-to-back home games in the competition for the first time since December 2019 when he was a Blues player – the second against Villa.
• With an average of 16.5 shots per 90 minutes when losing in the Premier League this season, Villa have produced almost double the amount in the winning-game state this term (8.8).
• Chelsea Villa are winless in their last two Premier League visits to the Park (D1 L1), having won five of their previous six there.
• The Blues have not lost consecutive away league games at Villa under Claudio Ranieri since 2002/03 and 2003/04.
• Away games in eight of their last 10 midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday). Premier League Ended in defeat (W2)
• That run included both such games in 2025/26, losing 3-1 at Leeds in December and 2-1 at Fulham in January.
• João Pedro Directly involved in five goals in five Premier League Appearances vs Aston Villa (2 goals, 3 assists) – The striker hasn’t been more involved in the competition against either side.