Another awaited game in the return of the English Premier League since the International break featured Graham Potter’s Chelsea against Unai Emery’s Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge today, April 1, 2023.
Chelsea went into the International break with a disappointing result drawing against relegation threatened Everton, despite appearing to turn a new leaf after poor form since January.
At this point in the Premier League, Chelsea have little to play for in the remainder of the season. All attention is on their UEFA Champions League quarter-final clash against Real Madrid later this month. Hence, the Premier League will probably be used as warm up for European games for Graham Potter’s team.
Like before the international break, things didn’t go according to plan for Chelsea as the Blues suffered another shameful defeat at Stamford Bridge in the presence of 40,082 spectators.
Chelsea starting line-up;
K. Arrizabalaga, K. Koulibaly, M. Cucurella, R. James, R. Loftus-Cheek, E. Fernandez, M. Kovacic, Ben Chilwell, K. Havertz, M. Mudryk, J. Felix.
Aston Villa starting line-up;
D. Martinez, A. Young, E. Konsa, T. Mings, A. Moreno, J. McGinn, B. Kamara, D. Luiz, J. Ramsey, E. Buendia, O. Watkins.
The match gets underway at exactly 5:30 pm with Ben Chilwell getting into some proper roles, forcing Aston Villa wide and creating space for Kovacic to shoot.
Aston Villa started the game with a quick counter-attack but Kai Havertz was taken down by Kamara which earned the Villa’s midfielder an early yellow card in the 4th minute of play.
Aston Villa created their first chance in the 7th minute against the Blues with a brilliant pass from McGinn which found Watkins but the striker played his shoot wide above the goal-post.
In the 16th minute of play, both teams missed staring chances.
Mudryk with one-on-one and having a shoot saved by Aston Villa goalkeeper Martinez, while Watkins also blew off his one on one opportunity.
In the 17th minute, Aston Villa got their opening goal from Watkins who shoot past Kepa through Cucurella’s horrible header.
Cucurella and Koulibaly’s terrible defense allows Watkins one-on-one for the second time, this time, the forward hit the target.
Ben Chilwell is incensed that he has not been given a penalty after going down through the tackle by Aston Villa defender, but the replay shows that it was outside the box.
At 36 minutes of play, Ben Chilwell hit the post from a tight angle as Aston Villa’s defense started dropping deeper.
A careless pass out of the back from Graham Potter’s side invited a hurting counter-attack from Unia Emery’s side as Chelsea continued to attract pressure on themselves.
Aston Villa tried to create another counter-attack down the right but Kovacic was too eager in cutting out the danger and picked up the second yellow card of the game.
Aston Villa goalkeeper Martinez saved Kai Havertz’s effort with a drive shot just outside the box in the 42nd minute and after a few minutes referee Andy Madley blew his whistle as the first half ended with 1-0 in favor of the visiting team Aston Villa.
The second half started in a different version with Aston Villa making a change as Kamara came off for Chambers.
Chilwell did well out on the left to bring down a long pass from Fernandez, he crossed but nobody was aiming at it in what could have been a great equalizer in the 51st minute.
Chilwell then hauled down Luiz as the forward looked for a counter and the Blues’ defender picked up a yellow card.
Aston Villa got their second goal in the 56th minute with an absolute stunner by McGinn.
Chelsea made a double change in the 58th minute of play, Kante came on for the first time since August alongside Madueke for Loftus-Cheek and Mydryk respectively.
Felix stormed into Aston Villa’s box and shoot a shot off but as the ball came back off Martinez, Felix claimed it hit the hand of Mings but VAR confirmed that there was no penalty.
Another double change for Chelsea with Pulisic and Gallagher on for Cucurella and Kovacic respectively in the 80th minute.
Pulisic hit the ball over the bar from a tight angle in the 88th minute as Chelsea did nothing with all their possessions.
The referee blew his whistle in the 96th minute as Aston Villa thrashed Chelsea for the first time since 2011 at Stamford Bridge.
