MX23RW : Sunday, February 16 12:03:20| >> :120:12077:12077:
[monks data]
Aston Villa logo
Premier League | Gameweek 38
May 23, 2021 at 4pm UK
Villa Park
Chelsea logo

Aston Villa
2 - 1
Chelsea

Traore (43'), El Ghazi (52' pen.)
McGinn (65'), Nakamba (74'), Martinez (81')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Chilwell (70')
Jorginho (45'), Werner (45+2'), Kovacic (49'), Arrizabalaga (90+5')
Azpilicueta (89')

How Chelsea could line up against Aston Villa

Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at how Chelsea could line up for Sunday's Premier League clash with Aston Villa.

Antonio Rudiger celebrates scoring for Chelsea against Leicester City in the Premier League on May 18, 2021© Reuters

Chelsea come into Sunday's away game against Aston Villa needing a victory to confirm their spot in the top four of the Premier League table, meaning that they cannot afford to rest key players for next Saturday's Champions League final.

That should see Thomas Tuchel line up with his strongest available front three of Mason Mount, Christian Pulisic and Timo Werner.

That comes in the absence of Kai Havertz, who missed their recent 2-1 victory over Leicester City through injury.

He should be joined on the sidelines by midfielder N'Golo Kante, who was forced off in that Leicester match and is unlikely to be risked before the Champions League final as a result.

Mateo Kovacic came on for Kante in that match to form a solid midfield pairing with Jorginho, who netted a penalty to put his side 2-0 up.

Tuchel should stick with that pair in the middle, while Cesar Azpilicueta, Antonio Rudiger and Thiago Silva are expected to continue to line up across the back three.

Rudiger in particular has vastly improved since Tuchel's appointment in January, and the Germany international has become a staple in the Blues' back line.

Marcos Alonso and Ben Chilwell will battle for the spot on the left-hand side, and we expect Alonso to be favoured as he has in several important games under the German manager.

Chelsea possible starting XI: Mendy; Azpilicueta, Silva, Rudiger; James, Jorginho, Kovacic, Alonso; Mount, Werner, Pulisic

> Click here to see how Aston Villa could line up for this clash

ID:448592:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect4024:
Written by
Sam Varley
No Data Analysis info
Game History

How you voted: Aston Villa vs Chelsea

Aston Villa
20.2%
Draw
11.7%
Chelsea
68.1%
188
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Chelsea's N'Golo Kante goes off injured against Leicester City in the Premier League on May 18, 2021
Read Next:
Thomas Tuchel confirms Kante "felt his hamstring" in Leicester win
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool24176158233557
2Arsenal25158251222953
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest25145641291247
4Manchester CityMan City25135752351744
5Bournemouth25127644291543
6Chelsea25127647341343
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2512584233941
8Fulham2510963833539
9Aston Villa2510873538-338
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2591063838037
11Brentford25104114342134
12Crystal Palace257992932-330
13Everton257992731-430
14Manchester UnitedMan Utd2485112834-629
15Tottenham HotspurSpurs24831348371127
16West Ham UnitedWest Ham2576122947-1827
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2454153452-1819
18Ipswich TownIpswich2538142350-2717
19Leicester CityLeicester2545162555-3017
20Southampton2523201957-389


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!