Chelsea vs Aston Villa Prediction, Odds and Betting Tips 26/01/2024
Calendar icon Updated 14 Feb 05:57

Chelsea vs Aston Villa Prediction, Odds and Betting Tips 26/01/2024

Kai Edvard Iliev Kai Edvard Iliev

Odds via Tonybet

Chelsea vs Aston VillaJanuary 26, 2024, 2:45 PM ET
Chelsea odds+112
Aston Villa odds+235
Draw+270
Over\Under2.5 -125 / +106

Chelsea vs Aston Villa. Shape of the teams

Chelsea’s initial 0-1 defeat against Michael Carrick’s Middlesbrough was indeed a shock to many in England, but Pochettino’s team ultimately had the last word with a resounding 6-1 victory in the return leg.

More importantly, the last two months have brought Chelsea a sense of stability, a development that has been a net positive for the Blues. However, the upcoming fixture against Aston Villa, followed by a clash with Liverpool, suggests that Chelsea’s path is not going to be easy. 

The story is somewhat similar for Aston Villa, who will face Newcastle after the encounter against Chelsea. Unfortunately for Aston Villa coach Emery, the upcoming game at Stamford Bridge brings back memories from his dreaded time at Arsenal – in the hope that his team will find its tempo in London. 

Aston Villa has struggled with their away form this season, yet the question remains whether the Premier League or the FA Cup will be prioritized. Aston Villa needlessly dropped points in a 0-0 draw away at Everton, pushing them back to fourth place in the league standings.

Premier League Table

1. Liverpool FC — 48 points

2. Manchester City — 43 points

3. Arsenal FC — 43 points

4. Aston Villa — 43 points

5. Tottenham Hotspur — 40 points

The struggle is just as important on Chelsea’s side, where even a single point makes a notable difference:

7. Brighton & Hove Albion — 32 points

8. Manchester United — 32 points

9. Chelsea — 31 points

10. Newcastle United — 29 points

Chelsea vs Aston Villa Main Match Info

Chelsea vs Aston Villa, Prediction, Odds

Aston Villa, on paper, forms the exact antidote to Chelsea’s unformed formula. Chelsea tends to struggle against teams that deploy organized defensive blocks and are adept at counter-attacking, a strategy that Aston Villa under Unai Emery has effectively utilized.

Reflecting on their encounters last season, Aston Villa managed to secure victories in both matches against Chelsea (0-1 and 0-2), underscoring their ability to exploit Chelsea’s vulnerabilities.

Emery’s conservative yet pragmatic approach, focusing on creating unity and stability, contrasts with Chelsea’s strategy, which often involves more open and expansive play.

Observing how Aston Villa handles Chelsea’s pressing will be intriguing. Pochettino’s team relies heavily on pressing and counter-pressing for both defense and attack. If Villa can consistently break through Chelsea’s press, they stand a good chance of winning.

With a more experienced team, it is hard to see Aston Villa not going through despite the odds favouring Chelsea – which is intrinsically more linked to status than their current level.

Despite Clément Lenglet still being laughed at as a consequence of the end of his career at Barcelona, the Frenchman has reinvented himself at Aston Villa. Under Unai Emery’s system, which emphasizes controlled, measured defensive play, Lenglet has found solidity and consistency at the back.

More importantly, the midfield battle probably favours the duo of Douglas Luiz and Boubacar Kamara, two players who have really come through this season and could target the back of Colwill, who has shown vulnerabilities in recent games.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa Betting Tip

If there is one thing Unai Emery has built his career on, it is tight leads that usually never surpass the impressive number of…one. This approach requires his teams to be constantly alert and vigilant.

At Villarreal, his team experienced difficulties when leading by “too many goals”, as it often led to complacency and provided an impetus for the opposition to become more proactive. This scenario is something any manager would prefer to avoid, as it can shift the momentum of the game.

Against Chelsea, Emery and his Aston Villa side face a unique mental challenge. Chelsea, a team known to make occasional mistakes, offers Emery an opportunity to address and test his team’s ability to maintain focus and discipline throughout the game.

While Aston Villa under Emery has generally been effective in holding onto leads, there have been instances of slip-ups reminiscent of his past experiences with Villarreal.

On the other hand, it also means that the team needs to remain compact, given that Mudryk is expected to play – and his pace and ability to unsettle defences usually means bad news for his opponents. 

Disclaimer: Odds are accurate at the time of posting and subject to change. Please verify the latest odds on our platform before betting.

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