Aston Villa vs Chelsea: Betting Odds & Prediction
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In-form Aston Villa host an inconsistent Chelsea as the home side look to continue their push for a top-four finish.
Villa secured a 1-0 away victory in the reverse fixture earlier this season. Kick-off is set for 8pm UK time.
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Aston Villa
Villa have responded to their 4-1 loss at Manchester City earlier in the month with a three-match unbeaten streak. Their most recent two have seen them secure victories over Arsenal and Bournemouth, with the latter being their twelfth win at Villa Park this season.
Unai Emery's men boast the fourth-best home record in the Premier League, averaging 2.24 points per game across 17 matches. They've also won three of their last five on home soil.
A rampant Villa frontline will be licking their lips against a leaky Chelsea defence; the Midlanders have averaged 2.53 goals scored in home fixtures, and have failed to score on just one occasion at Villa Park this term. An astounding ten of these matches have seen Villa bag three or more goals.
They boast a respectable defensive record too, having conceded an average of 1.35 goals per game. Six of their home games have seen them ship at least two goals, though. There has been an average of 2.7 total goals per game at Villa Park this season.
Chelsea
Mauricio Pochettino's men have endured a campaign blighted by inconsistency. They currently sit in ninth, and while they hold faint aspirations of securing a spot in Europe, a 5-0 loss at Arsenal was the latest example of their unpredictable nature.
Chelsea have a mediocre record in the league this season, averaging just 1.19 points on the road so far. They were undefeated in four away games heading into the match at the Emirates though, but have shipped an alarming two goals on average in these fixtures. Only two of these have ended in a clean sheet.
They've had more success at the other end of the pitch, with an average of 1.63 goals scored, and have failed to score in only three away games so far.
Chelsea have already won at Villa Park this season, securing a 3-1 victory at the venue in an FA Cup fourth-round replay in February.
Prediction
Despite some improvements in their performance lately, including a 6-0 home win over Everton, Chelsea still rightly enter the match as firm underdogs (21/10). Villa meanwhile have been superb all season, particularly at Villa Park, and remain the sensible pick on the moneyline as the season's end draws closer.