Chelsea strengthened their push for a top-four Premier League finish with a commanding 3-0 victory over Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge. The result leaves Villa winless in eight league games and drops them to 12th, while Chelsea climb to third, level on points and goal difference with Arsenal.
The game started at a blistering pace, and Chelsea wasted no time asserting themselves. Their opening goal came in the early minutes and was a product of Marc Cucurella’s determination. The left-back dispossessed Jaden Philogene with a firm challenge, sparking protests from the Villa players who appealed for a free-kick. Play continued, and Cucurella surged forward to set up Nicolas Jackson, who swept the ball home from close range for his eighth league goal of the season.
Villa had a golden opportunity to respond through Ollie Watkins, who outpaced Wesley Fofana to a through ball. However, Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sánchez rushed off his line to make a sharp block, denying the England striker a crucial equalizer.
Chelsea nearly doubled their lead in bizarre circumstances after Emiliano MartÃnez handled a Pau Torres touch, prompting the referee to award an indirect free-kick inside Villa’s box. With every Villa player packed on the goal line, Cole Palmer’s thunderous shot was sensationally stopped by MartÃnez. Moments later, the Argentine goalkeeper almost gifted Chelsea a goal with a misdirected pass straight to Jackson, but the striker’s heavy touch allowed MartÃnez to recover.
Chelsea’s dominance was rewarded with a second goal just before halftime. Pressing high, they won possession deep in Villa’s half. Cole Palmer played a clever pass to Enzo Fernández, who rifled an unstoppable shot into the net from the edge of the box. Villa managed one last chance in first-half stoppage time, with Philogene threading the ball to Watkins, but Sánchez produced another superb save to preserve Chelsea’s two-goal lead at the break.
The second half saw a more subdued pace, as Chelsea controlled the game and Villa struggled to find a spark. An early effort from John McGinn forced Sánchez into action, but the Chelsea goalkeeper made a comfortable save as the offside flag was eventually raised.
The match seemed to drift toward a quiet conclusion until Cole Palmer produced a moment of brilliance late in the game. Receiving the ball on the edge of the area, Palmer curled a spectacular shot into the top corner, sealing a resounding win for Chelsea.
The victory puts Chelsea firmly in contention for a Champions League spot, moving them six points clear of Villa, whose winless streak has left Unai Emery’s side mired in the bottom half of the table. For Chelsea, the result further solidifies their resurgence, with standout performances from Cucurella, Fernández, and Sánchez paving the way for a dominant display.
