Villa vs Chelsea Preview, Prediction, and Top Wagers
Wednesday Night Showdown: Aston Villa vs Chelsea in the FA Cup
Get ready for an exhilarating encounter as Aston Villa hosts Chelsea in the FA Cup fifth-round replay! Unai Emery is determined to guide his team to lift the trophy, a feat they last achieved in 1987.
Aston Villa's Form
Villa ended a three-match winning streak with a 3-2 loss at Man Utd but bounced back with a thrilling 5-0 win over Sheffield United. A 1-0 victory at Middlesbrough in the FA Cup followed, but they failed to create enough chances in the goalless draws against Everton and Chelsea in the FA Cup. A 3-1 home defeat to Newcastle came next, but they seemed free-flowing in a 5-0 victory at Bramall Lane.
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Aston Villa Team News
Emi Buendia and Tyrone Mings are still sidelined due to long-term injuries. Lucas Digne is nearing a return, but this might come too soon. John Duran is ruled out upfront, reducing options from the bench. Douglas Luiz should be available after illness, and Pau Torres might return for this match. Nicolo Zaniolo has a small muscle injury and won't play any part.
Aston Villa's Motivation
Villa believes they can triumph over Chelsea. They are resolved to focus and show their best performance to advance to the next round. Emery's side might opt for a solid defense and rely on counter-attacks, even at home.
Chelsea's Form
Chelsea seemed to be improving, but two poor performances followed. They were on a streak of one loss in seven matches before a 1-0 home win over Fulham. A 4-0 thrashing of Preston in the FA Cup and reaching the Carabao Cup final, following a 6-1 win over Middlesbrough, were followed by drawing the first meeting in the FA Cup and a crushing 4-1 defeat at Liverpool. Their most recent outing ended in a 4-2 loss to Wolves.
Chelsea Team News
Reece James is out, and Levi Colwill is a major doubt. Mauricio Pochettino might consider a switch to a back three, which could see Benoit Badiashile recalled. Nicolas Jackson is pushing for a start after his return from the AFCON. Christopher Nkunku is back from injury, but it's unclear if he can start twice in five days. Romeo Lavia and Lesley Ugochukwu are both injured in midfield.
Chelsea's Motivation
Pochettino needs a response after the poor results from the past week. His side is expected to be defensive and fully focused on any sort of win. They must be more solid after conceding eight goals in the last eight days.
Key Stats
- Villa have lost only twice in 16 matches
- Villa have won 16 of their last 18 home EPL matches
- Chelsea have lost six of their last seven away fixtures (one win)
- Chelsea have conceded eight goals in their last two matches
- Chelsea have won on five of their last six trips to Aston Villa
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Tune in for a tense and close match. One goal could be the difference-maker. Villa, in better form, are tipped to break the recent home-win drought against Chelsea with a triumph here.
** Best Bet: Aston Villa win (90 minutes) at 2.15** Value Bet: Aston Villa win and Under 3.5 goals at 3.10
- The results of the FA Cup fifth-round replay could see Aston Villa break their home-win drought against Chelsea, as Villa have won 16 of their last 18 home EPL matches and Chelsea have lost six of their last seven away fixtures.
- With Chelsea conceding eight goals in their last two matches, Aston Villa, in better form, are tipped to have a victory in this fixture, given their solid defensive strategy and potential counterattacks.
- Sports betting enthusiasts looking for value might consider betting on Aston Villa to win and under 3.5 goals in the match, as it offers a higher payout based on the teams' recent form and the potential for a low-scoring encounter.
