Two sides that will have hoped for dramatically better campaigns back in August meet at Villa Park on Saturday lunchtime.
Managerless Villa's days as a Premier League club appear to be numbered, while Chelsea have produced one of the meekest defences of a title in recent memory.
Villa
© Getty Images
As strange as it may sound, most Villa fans will probably feel a sense of relief when their side's relegation is confirmed.
It has been a truly miserable season for everyone of a Villa persuasion, compounded on Tuesday night when the news broke that manager Remi Garde had decided to throw in the towel.
In his 20 Premier League matches at the helm, the Frenchman saw his side win just twice and amass an average of 0.6 points per game - the lowest return in the division's history.
He heads back across the Channel with Villa firmly rooted to the bottom of the table, 12 points from safety and with just seven matches left to play. It is little wonder that the majority of bookmakers have stopped taking bets on the club's demotion.
It is a sorry state of affairs for an outfit that finished sixth three seasons in a row between 2007 and 2010, as well as being just one of five English clubs to have lifted the European Cup.
Names like David Moyes, Nigel Pearson and Mick McCarthy have been linked with the vacancy, but for now Eric Black is the man that has been charged with taking the team forward on an interim basis.
The 52-year-old is no stranger to that role, having previously been the caretaker at Birmingham City, Sunderland, Blackburn Rovers, Wigan Athletic and Rotherham United.
Recent form: LLLLLL
Chelsea
© Getty Images
Like Black, Guus Hiddink is well aware that he will be replaced in the summer.
The veteran Dutch coach was called upon to carry out some major fire-fighting work back in December, with Chelsea just one point outside of the drop zone.
To Hiddink's credit, he has done just that. Chelsea head to Villa in 10th position and are still unbeaten under the 69-year-old's guidance in the Premier League - six wins and eight draws.
That run was preserved by Cesc Fabregas in the dying embers of the derby with West Ham United last time out. The Spanish playmaker scored an 89th-minute penalty to not only rescue a 2-2 draw for his side, but also carry on his record of having never been on the losing side when he has found the net in a Premier League match (38 games).
Fabregas and his teammates will travel to Birmingham able to boast a positive away record of late, with four wins and two draws from their previous six outings. During that time, they have also shipped only two goals.
On top of that, a victory would be the club's 200th on the road in the Premier League. Only Manchester United (245) and Arsenal (208) have put more on the board.
Recent form: DWWWDD
Team News
© Getty Images
After yet another flashpoint - this time away at Everton in the FA Cup - Chelsea's main marksman Diego Costa finds himself suspended for this encounter.
Loic Remy failed to make the most of his opportunity versus West Ham, so Hiddink may turn to youngster Bertrand Traore to lead the attack.
A long-standing hip complaint is expected to keep Eden Hazard sidelined, but winger Pedro could come back into contention.
As for Villa, Micah Richards and Jack Grealish may return to the squad following recent injury layoffs, while Armand Traore is also pushing for inclusion following his recovery from a foot problem.
Gabriel Agbonlahor may miss out, though, after he was pictured partying in Dubai earlier this week.
Villa possible starting lineup:
Guzan; Hutton, Richards, Lescott, Cissokho; Veretout, Westwood, Gueye, Gil, Ayew; Gestede
Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; Mikel, Fabregas; Willian, Oscar, Pedro; Traore
Head To Head
When these two teams met back in October, both had different managers in their respective dugouts.
It was Jose Mourinho's Blues that came out on top against Tim Sherwood's Villa thanks to a strike from the suspended Costa and an Alan Hutton own goal.
It is a fixture that has been dominated by the West Londoners in recent seasons, with seven victories to their name from the last eight meetings.
Villa have beaten Chelsea in front of their own supporters just once since 2009.
The Dugout Podcast
Hit play below to listen to Sports Mole's new podcast 'The Dugout' for our take on the week's biggest football talking points:
We say: Villa 0-2 Chelsea
Decent performances have been few and far between for Chelsea this term, but they should not need one on Saturday. Villa have been easy meat for most sides since August and it should be a similar story this time around.
No Data Analysis info
