Venue: Villa Park, Birmingham.
Date: 4 March 2026, Premier League, Regular Season - Round 29.
Aston Villa come in 4th (51 pts, +8 GD), Chelsea 6th (45 pts, +16 GD).
Aston Villa Availability
Unai Emery is without three key midfield options. B. Kamara is ruled out with a knee injury, along with captain J. McGinn (knee) and Y. Tielemans (ankle), stripping Villa of significant control in the middle of the pitch. Defender Andrés García is doubtful due to a muscle injury and will face a late fitness test. In attack, however, Villa are well stocked: O. Watkins (8 goals, 1 assist) and M. Rogers (8 goals, 5 assists) are both fit and available, underpinning a frontline that has helped Villa score 38 league goals.
Chelsea Availability
Chelsea’s issues are spread across the pitch. L. Colwill (knee), D. Essugo (injury), M. Mudryk (suspended) and Pedro Neto (red card) are all ruled out, with Neto’s absence particularly costly given his 5 goals and 4 assists. Marc Cucurella, Estêvão and J. Bynoe-Gittens are all doubtful with muscle problems. Even so, Chelsea retain major attacking threats: João Pedro (11 goals, 4 assists) and E. Fernández (8 goals, 2 assists) are both available.
Villa’s main losses are structural in midfield rather than pure attacking output, while Chelsea are deprived of Neto’s direct goal contribution and wing threat. Both sides still retain their leading scorers, keeping the attacking balance relatively intact despite notable absentees.
