Date: Wednesday 7th February, 2024
Time: 9:00 pm
Stadium Villa Park
Referee Thomas Bramall (England)
Goal Scorer:
Aston Villa
Unai Emery has greeted a mixed bag of updates on the team news front ahead of his side’s latest fixture. Against Chelsea on Wednesday, the Aston Villa manager will be bereft of the services of seven first-team players.
Morgan Rogers is the latest absentee, as he is cup-tied due to his participation in this season’s FA Cup with Middlesbrough. But Douglas Luiz should return after recovering from illness. Meanwhile, Tyrone Mings (knee), Pau Torres (ankle), Lucas Digne (hamstring), Nicolo Zaniolo (knock), Emiliano Buendia (knee), and Jhon Duran (unspecified) remain on the sidelines.
Emiliano Martinez will take his spot between the sticks, with Aston Villa lining up in a 4-4-2 formation in front of him against Chelsea. The backline should produce no surprises, with Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Clement Lenglet, and Alex Moreno completing the defensive quartet.
As for the midfield unit, Boubacar Kamara and Douglas Luiz should hold the fort in the middle of the park. The duo will also initiate quick transitions, enabling John McGinn and Leon Bailey to run riot. Finally, Ollie Watkins and Moussa Diaby should be the two attackers for the home side.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Lenglet, Moreno; Bailey, Kamara, Luiz, McGinn; Diaby, Watkins
Chelsea
Unlike his counterpart in the Aston Villa dugout, Mauricio Pochettino does not have any new issues hampering his preparations ahead of the trip to Villa Park. The Chelsea manager will be without seven first-team players on Wednesday.
Levi Colwill might return from a knock, although he faces a race against time to be available on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Robert Sanchez (knee), Reece James (hamstring), Wesley Fofana (knee), Marc Cucurella (ankle), Trevoh Chalobah (hamstring), Romeo Lavia (thigh), and Lesley Ugochukwu (hamstring) remain on the sidelines.
Colwill might miss out on Wednesday, with Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile forming the central defensive unit. Malo Gusto and Ben Chilwell will likely feature as the two full-backs, with Djordje Petrovic deputising for Sanchez in the goal.
As for the midfield unit, Carney Chukwuemeka should start ahead of Moises Caicedo, with Enzo Fernandez being his central midfield partner. Nicolas Jackson should spearhead the Chelsea attack against Aston Villa, with Mykhailo Mudryk, Christopher Nkunku, and Cole Palmer joining him in the final third.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Petrovic; Gusto, Disasi, Badiashile, Chilwell; Chukwuemeka, Fernandez; Palmer, Nkunku, Mudryk; Jackson
Prediction: Aston Villa 2-1 Chelsea
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