As Chelsea prepare to host Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon, former Blues midfielder Mikel Ibi has delivered a damning verdict on the Villans’ chances. Ibi believes that Chelsea’s predicted lineup is simply too strong for Villa, and that Unai Emery’s side will be lucky to escape with a draw.
“Chelsea’s predicted lineup is a real cause for concern for Aston Villa,” Ibi told 90min. “With Sanchez in goal, Gusto, Fofana, Colwill, and Cucurella in defence, Caicedo and Fernandez in midfield, and Madueke, Palmer, Felix, and Jackson up front, Chelsea have a squad that is capable of beating any team in the Premier League.
“Aston Villa, on the other hand, are struggling to find their form. They have a number of injury concerns, and their predicted lineup just doesn’t have the same quality as Chelsea’s. I think Chelsea will win this game comfortably, and Aston Villa will be lucky to get a draw.”
Ibi’s comments will come as a blow to Villa fans, who had been hoping for a positive result against Chelsea. However, the statistics suggest that Ibi’s prediction may not be far off the mark. Chelsea have won four of their last five meetings with Villa, and have not lost to the Villans at Stamford Bridge since 2011.
Chelsea’s predicted lineup is certainly an impressive one, with a mix of youth and experience that should prove too much for Villa to handle. Sanchez has been in fine form in goal, while Gusto and Cucurella provide a solid defensive presence. In midfield, Caicedo and Fernandez offer a mix of creativity and steel, while Madueke, Palmer, Felix, and Jackson provide a potent attacking threat.
Aston Villa, on the other hand, will be without Jacob Ramsey, who is injured. Amadou Onana is also a doubt, and may not be fit to start. Ezri Konsa returned to the bench for the midweek draw with Juventus, and may start on Sunday.
The match kicks off at 13:30 GMT on Sunday, and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. With Chelsea’s predicted lineup looking so strong, it’s hard to see anything other than a home win.
“We’re feeling confident ahead of the game,” Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca said. “We’ve been working hard in training, and we’re ready to take on Aston Villa. We know it won’t be an easy game, but we’re confident in our abilities and we’re looking forward to getting out there and giving it our all.”
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery, on the other hand, is more cautious. “We know it’s going to be a tough game,” Emery said. “Chelsea are a very good team, and they have a lot of quality players. But we’re not going to give up. We’re going to go out there and give it our all, and see what happens.”
As the two teams prepare to face off on Sunday, it’s clear that Chelsea are the favourites to win. But Aston Villa have a habit of causing upsets, and they will be determined to get a result against the Blues.
One thing that could work in Villa’s favour is their recent record at Stamford Bridge. The Villans have won two of their last three trips to Chelsea, and have kept three clean sheets in their last five meetings with the Blues.
However, Chelsea’s current form suggests that they are unlikely to slip up against Villa. The Blues have won four of their last five games, and have kept three clean sheets in their last four outings.
As the clock ticks down to kick-off on Sunday, it’s clear that Chelsea are the team to beat. But Aston Villa will be determined to cause an upset, and the match promises to be an exciting and closely contested encounter.
In the end, it’s likely to come down to which team can assert their dominance on the pitch. If Chelsea can get their attacking players firing, they could run riot against Villa. But if the Villans can keep things tight at the back and catch Chelsea on the counter, they could yet spring a surprise.
Whatever the outcome, it’s shaping up to be a thrilling encounter between two teams with a rich history of competition. Don’t miss the action live on Sky Sports on Sunday.
Prediction: Chelsea 2-0 Aston Villa
