The stage is set for the biggest English Premier League, EPL, match of this weekend as Chelsea hosts Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge.
The match will take place on Saturday evening and the kick-off time is 6.30 pm, Nigerian time.
Both teams head to the game after their last Premier League games against Newcastle United and Manchester United, respectively.
Chelsea played a 2-2 draw with Newcastle, while Aston Villa defeated Man United 2-1.
Aston Villa have won three of their five Premier League games against the Blues under manager Unai Emery (one draw, one defeat).
Emery’s side are in third position on the Premier League table with 7 points ahead of fourth-position Chelsea after 17 games.
The West Midlands side will hope to beat Chelsea to keep their Premier League title hopes alive as they are just one point behind second-position Manchester City and three points behind leaders Arsenal.
For Chelsea, they will endeavour to dent Villa’s title race as they are technically out of the challenge, hoping to fight for a top-four finish.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca could be without Estêvão against the visitors after the Brazilian winger missed their matches against Cardiff City and Newcastle.
Similarly, the likes of Levi Colwill, Dário Essugo and Roméo Lavia are out for the encounter at Stamford Bridge, although Maresca suggested during the pre-match press conference that striker Liam Delap would make his comeback against Aston Villa.
For Aston Villa, Jadon Sancho will be available to face his former loan team, Chelsea, while fellow loanee Harvey Elliott is struggling with illness, and he is unlikely to feature.
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery will be without Evann Guessand after the Ivorian was given a late call-up to the Ivory Coast national team for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, in Morocco.
Also, former Chelsea midfielder Ross Barkley will not play for Emery’s side due to injury.
