Aston Villa vs Chelsea predictions and betting tips – Huge game in top-five race

Aston Villa and Chelsea are two of four clubs involved in the race for the three remaining Champions League qualification spots behind Arsenal and Manchester City.

A win here for either side would be huge. Will Villa take a giant step towards securing a top-five finish, or can Chelsea go to Birmingham and leave with maximum points?

• Chelsea to win – 11/8 with 247Bet
• Under 2.5 goals – 6/5 with Spreadex
• Joao Pedro to score any time – 15/8 with Tote

Aston Villa vs Chelsea odds

Find the latest Aston Villa vs Chelsea betting odds here. All odds are provided by our recommended football bookmakers and are subject to change.

Aston Villa vs Chelsea predictions

The Premier League title race will be the focus of many people’s attention on Wednesday evening, as Arsenal and Manchester City play at the same time.

However, this meeting between Aston Villa and Chelsea (which also kicks off at 7.30pm) looks like the standout fixture in the upcoming round of matches.

It is a direct clash between two teams who share the same objective: a top-five finish and Champions League qualification is the target for both Villa and Chelsea.

Both could yet achieve their goal. But with Liverpool resurgent and Manchester United transformed under Michael Carrick, there is a feeling that either Villa or Chelsea are the likeliest of the four contenders to miss out.

That is certainly how the bookmakers see it, with Villa tipped to finish fifth and Chelsea predicted to finish sixth. 

This game will go a long way to determining the outcome. Six points is the gap between the pair ahead of Wednesday’s showdown at Villa Park.

That could become three points or nine points depending on the result this week. A Villa win would probably put them out of the reach of Chelsea barring a late-season collapse.

A Chelsea victory, on the other hand, would put them within touching distance of Unai Emery’s men, who already have the worst goal difference of the four candidates vying for three places behind Arsenal and Manchester City.

The stakes are high, then, not least because Villa and Chelsea both came unstuck at the weekend.

Emery’s team went down to a 2-0 defeat by Wolverhampton Wanderers, for whom it was only their second win of the campaign.

Chelsea’s 2-1 loss to Arsenal was more excusable given the calibre of opposition, yet the Blues still left the Emirates Stadium frustrated. 

Arsenal were already ahead when Pedro Neto was sent off in the 70th minute, but that red card did not exactly help Chelsea’s chances of fighting back for a second time.

“I don’t want to be sat here saying how well we play every week without picking up the points,” Rosenior said after the London derby.

“[We] need to start finding a way of playing well, which we have done in large parts of my time with the group. But we also need to pick up points very, very quickly.”

Emery would no doubt concur.

Aston Villa vs Chelsea betting tips

Aston Villa entertain Chelsea as part of the Premier League’s latest midweek round of games.

Chelsea to edge it

Rosenior made a bright start to his Chelsea tenure, but his team have now gone three matches without a win.

Losing narrowly to Arsenal is understandable, but the Blues previously dropped four points at home to Leeds United and Burnley.

However, Aston Villa’s downturn has lasted longer. Just three of their last 10 games, and two of their last eight, have ended in victory.

Even when Villa have won matches, they have not played particularly well. The momentum is against them right now and it will take a huge effort to recapture it.

Chelsea know they need to win this match, and that clarity could actually help them.

Choose Chelsea to win at 11/8 with 247Bet

Goals on low end

This bet looks like fantastic value when you take a look at Aston Villa’s recent results.

There have been under 2.5 goals in each of Villa’s last eight Premier League assignments. You have to go back to January 3 to find the last time Emery’s team were involved in a top-flight clash featuring at least three strikes.

Chelsea’s recent matches have been more eventful. Yet they will arrive at Villa Park with the intention of keeping things tight at the back first and foremost.

This promises to be an engaging encounter between two top-five rivals, but goals could be at a premium.

Go for under 2.5 goals at 6/5 with Spreadex

Pedro back among goals

With Ollie Watkins still out of form, Emery could introduce Tammy Abraham to the Aston Villa starting XI.

Abraham will not be short of motivation against the club from whose academy he graduated a decade ago.

There is no doubt over who will lead the line for Chelsea. Joao Pedro did not find the net against Arsenal, but his record under Rosenior is excellent.

Since Chelsea brought in the former Strasbourg head coach, the Brazil international has scored seven times in all competitions. He can add another goal to his tally on Wednesday.

Select Joao Pedro to score any time at 15/8 with Tote

Aston Villa vs Chelsea predicted lineups

• Aston Villa expected lineup: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Maatsen; Onana, Luiz; Sancho, Barkley, Rogers; Abraham.
• Chelsea expected lineup: Sanchez; James, Sarr, Chalobah, Hato; Caicedo, Santos; Palmer, Fernandez, Garnacho; Pedro.

Where to watch Aston Villa vs Chelsea

• Location: Villa Park, Birmingham, England.
• Date and time: Wednesday 4th March, 7.30pm.
• How to watch: TNT Sports 3.

More Premier League predictions

We have plenty more Premier League predictions and picks – find our latest betting tips from expert punters in our match preview overview.

About the author

Greg Lea

Greg Lea is a freelance football writer from London. He predominantly covers the Premier League and has had work published by the Guardian, FourFourTwo, ESPN and others.

Follow Greg on X: @GregLeaFootball

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