Chelsea take on Aston Villa at Villa Park on
Saturday lunchtime looking to secure a top-
four finish this season, while the hosts can
cement their top flight status for another
year with a positive result.
The Blues missed the chance to ensure
Champions League qualification in midweek
when Tottenham scored a late equaliser to
snatch a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge on
Wednesday night and keep the race for the
top-four alive.
The result leaves Rafa Benitez men sitting third
in the Premier League table, two points ahead
of fourth-placed Arsenal and three ahead of
fifth-placed Spurs with just two games
remaining, so a win this Saturday will ensure
they finish in the top-four due to their
superior goal-difference.
Villa on the other hand have very different
concerns to worry about with Paul Lamberts
side still sweating on their Premier League
status, despite currently laying in 13th place in
the table.
Villa have picked up five wins in eight and hit
the 40 point marker last weekend but with
18th placed Wigan on 35 points, the
Midlanders are still not mathematically safe so
therefore need a win this weekend
to guarantee survival for another year.
Team News
Lambert is sweating on the fitness of right
back Matthew Lowton after he picked up a
thigh strain against Norwich last weekend. The
young defender will be given a late fitness test
but is expected to be passed fit.
Richard Dunne is back in training having been
sidelined after almost 10 months, but he’s well
short of match fitness and isn’t expected to
feature again this season. Karim El Ahmadi and
Ciaran Clark will once again be on the sidelines
through injury.
Frank Lampard will return to the starting line-
up for Chelsea having been an
unused substitute against Spurs and he will bid
to become the clubs all-time record
goalscorer.
Eden Hazard is set to face a late fitness test
after being forced off late on in midweek with
a calf strain, while Victor Moses also picked up
a kock but is expected to start.
Midfielder John Obi Mikel is back in training
afer a hip injury ruled him out against Spurs
but Ryan Bertrand remains out with a knee
problem. Oriol Romeu could return to the
squad following his long-term absence with a
knee problem.
Likely Line-ups
Predicted Score
Chelsea ran out 8-0 winners in the reverse
fixture at the Bridge back in December so
you’d expect Villa have something to prove this
time around. But the Blues have been in
excellent form of late and were unlucky not to
collect all three points against Tottenham in
midweek, so I’m going for an away win. Aston
Villa 1-2 Chelsea
What would be your preferred line-up for the
game and what’s your score prediction? Get
involved in the comments section below.
Machapisho
Hakuna maoni:
Chapisha Maoni