Game Week 13 Predictions: Chelsea to beat Aston Villa

Chelsea hosts Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge, aiming for second place. Can Unai Emery's Villa recover from poor form and halt the Blues ?

Chelsea will hope to find joy at home against Aston Villa, a team on a downward spiral. (Photo credit: Opta)

 Chelsea vs. Aston Villa

Stamford Bridge Stadium

2:30 pm

Chelsea continues to dominate the Premier League table and in Europe; a convincing win here could propel them to second place in the standings, depending on when Manchester City plays later in the day. This is something they should keep in mind when they kick off at home on Sunday.

The Blues have risen above all the uncertainties of the summer, only losing twice so far this season—to the champions on the opening day and to the log leaders not too long ago—but a win over a team like Aston Villa will boost their ego.

For the visitors, there's a sense of déjà vu as Unai Emery approaches the point where he appears to lose his way; this has been the case everywhere he's been, including at Arsenal, where it felt like he was going to achieve so much but ended up with nothing.

You must be concerned for Aston Villa, as they've gone from being tipped to make the top four again this season to languishing in ninth place and losing their momentum in Europe. They can achieve a significant victory here to boost their confidence, but it won't be an easy task.

Recent results between the two teams indicate potential goals as both teams exert maximum effort. Given Enzo Maresca's penchant for expansive football and his disregard for handbrakes, this game could significantly impact the remainder of the season for both teams.

How will they line up? Chelsea is pleased with their injury situation; Malo Gusto, who missed last weekend's game due to illness, may be available for this match. However, Reece James is the only confirmed absentee for the hosts, as Pedro Neto is expected to undergo a late fitness test.

Aston Villa has no win in their last five; two draws followed a run of three successive defeats against Spurs, Club Brugge, and Liverpool. Emery cannot complain about the availability of players. What can he do differently in this one?

Emery is known to think things differently; Jacob Ramsey is the only confirmed absentee for Villa while Amadou Onana is back in training. With a 4-2-3-1 formation, Aston Villa will try to nullify Chelsea’s firepower, but can they succeed?

Chelsea’s Cole Palmer has been cold in recent games, but expect him to fire hard in this one alongside Nicolas Jackson. Christopher Nkunku and Jadon Sancho played quite well in the Conference League; they could be useful for the Blues on Sunday.

Verdict: Chelsea is to win.