Chelsea secured a dominant victory against an out-of-form Aston Villa, extending the visitors’ winless streak to eight matches. Cole Palmer played a pivotal role in the match, contributing both creativity and a stunning goal to cap off the performance.
Nicolas Jackson opened the scoring for Chelsea in the seventh minute. A defensive lapse by Jadon Philogene, pressured by Marc Cucurella, allowed the left-back to deliver a precise cross. Jackson capitalized, guiding the ball past Emiliano Martinez with a clinical first-time strike. Enzo Fernandez doubled the lead in the 36th minute, volleying home with composure after a deft first touch, following a well-timed pass from Palmer. The move originated from Moises Caicedo’s successful midfield interception.
Palmer’s Class Seals the Win
Chelsea’s dominance was evident throughout, as they controlled over 64% possession and created numerous chances. Palmer himself sealed the win late in the game, curling an exquisite left-footed shot into the net from outside the box in the 83rd minute. This marked Palmer’s eighth goal of the season, equaling Jackson’s tally.
Despite their superiority, Chelsea missed opportunities to increase the scoreline. Palmer failed to convert a close-range chance after a Villa defensive mishap, while Jadon Sancho threatened sporadically. Villa’s defensive troubles were compounded by an error involving Martinez and Pau Torres, though Chelsea couldn’t capitalize on the resulting indirect free kick.
Villa’s Struggles Continue
Aston Villa’s lackluster performance was highlighted by missed opportunities and further setbacks. Ollie Watkins squandered two good chances, including one following an error by Fernandez. Adding to Villa’s woes, Martinez was substituted at halftime due to injury.
Although Villa showed brief flashes of intent, with John McGinn and substitute Ross Barkley creating half-chances, they were unable to find a way back into the match. Chelsea’s second-half dominance ensured their victory remained unchallenged, marred only by an injury to Wesley Fofana.
Chelsea’s victory lifts them to joint-second in the Premier League standings with 25 points, while Villa, on 19 points, now sit in 12th place. For Unai Emery, the current eight-game winless run marks the most challenging period of his time at the club, with Villa’s last win coming in October against Bologna in the Champions League.
