Aston Villa defeated Chelsea (2:1) in the 18th round of the APL 2025/26.

The match at Stamford Bridge was of great importance for both Chelsea and Aston Villa. The Londoners had fallen out of the Champions League zone due to Liverpool’s victory over Wolverhampton, but a triumph over the Birmingham side would have returned the team to the top-4. Unai Emery’s charges, in turn, were holding on in the fight for the championship – but in case of a slip-up by the “Villans,” they would have fallen 5-6 points behind the leader.

The visitors completely failed the first half. Not a single shot was taken at Sanchez’s goal, and in touches in the penalty area, Chelsea led 28:3. The “Blues” possessed the ball for 71% of the playing time. Aston Villa was even outplayed in duels (27:17 in favor of the hosts).

Most importantly, Enzo Maresca’s team took ten shots, generating 1.93 expected goals. The Londoners could have opened the scoring in the 19th minute thanks to a penetrating pass from Palmer and a lay-off from Garnacho to the edge of the penalty area. Enzo Fernandez fired into the top right corner from there, but the ball went just wide of the post.

Five minutes later, Neto crossed to the near corner of the goal area – João Pedro finished, but Emiliano Martinez parried. Finally, in the 37th minute, Chelsea took the lead from a corner. Reece James delivered a cross almost into the goal, and João Pedro redirected the ball into the net. 1:0!

It was with this score that the players went to rest. It seemed that after the break, the hosts would finish off the “Villans.” However, after the break, the game turned around. Now the Birmingham side took a dozen shots against four from their opponent, and in shots on target, it was 0:7 in favor of the visitors. The Londoners’ possession dropped to 49%, and in touches in the penalty area, it was already 19:12.

Although the start was nervous. In the 55th minute, McGinn almost sliced Palmer’s cross into his own net, and the subsequent corner ended with another slice. Martinez managed to get the ball from under the crossbar. Only after that did Aston Villa take control of the game. In particular, already in the 61st minute, Kamara broke through one-on-one with Sanchez – Robert won that duel.

But in the 63rd minute, he had to fish the ball out of the net. This time, Watkins went one-on-one, receiving a through pass from Onana. 1:1! In the 65th minute, Maatsen could have put Aston Villa ahead, breaking through to the left edge of the penalty area and smashing under the crossbar – Sanchez saved the “Pensioners”!

In the next 15 minutes, the Birmingham side’s pressure didn’t produce moments, except for a free kick in the 73rd minute. Morgan Rogers fired over the top left corner.

Nevertheless, in the 84th minute, the visitors scored a well-deserved second goal. Tielemans delivered a corner right onto Watkins’ head, and Ollie sent the ball under the far post with an effective header. 1:2!

After the conceded goal, Chelsea faltered again, but Robert Sanchez’s saves didn’t allow the hosts to be finished off. Although the goalkeeper also helped the “Villans” – so, at the end of the match, he fell with the ball in his hands outside the penalty area, setting up a promising set piece for the opponent. Digne’s shot from it was parried by the same Sanchez.

In the end, the final whistle recorded Aston Villa’s 11th consecutive victory in all competitions. The Birmingham side continues to stay one point behind Manchester City and three behind Arsenal, while Chelsea trails fourth-placed Liverpool by three points.