At A Glance
Aston Villa head to Stamford Bridge for the second time this season on Friday night when they meet Chelsea in the FA Cup fourth round.
Unai Emery’s team picked up a 1-0 victory in the aforementioned Premier League clash in west London back in September, with Ollie Watkins scoring the decisive goal.
Villa overcame Championship side Middlesbrough 1-0 in the third round to set up this game against the Blues, who are 12 points below them in the top flight.
Chelsea come into the game having dispatched Boro 6-1 (6-2 on aggregate) in midweek to reach the Carabao Cup final.
Mauricio Pochettino’s men were also among the goals in the FA Cup third round when they hammered Preston North End 4-0 on home turf.
Cole Palmer has been their man offensive threat this season, scoring 11 goals and picking up seven assists.
Standout Stats
Aston Villa have won their past two matches against Chelsea, both away from home. They have not won three in a row against them in all competitions since a run of four between 1978 and 1984.
Chelsea have won 40 of their past 47 FA Cup matches at Stamford Bridge and have won their past eight games in a row by an aggregate score of 24-3.
Aston Villa ended a run of eight consecutive FA Cup defeats with a 1-0 win at Championship side Middlesbrough in the third round.
However, Villa have lost their past seven FA Cup away matches against Premier League teams, with their most recent win coming against Everton in the 1999-00 quarter-final.
Raheem Sterling has been directly involved in 19 goals in his last 20 starts in the FA Cup (10 goals, nine assists). He scored and assisted in Chelsea’s 4-0 win over Preston in the third round.
The Last Meeting
A goal from Ollie Watkins ensured Aston Villa left Stamford Bridge with all three Premier League points in September.
Villa’s No.11 drilled a shot in from a tight angle after 73 minutes to break the deadlock.
An even game swung in the visitors’ favour when Malo Gusto was sent-off for a dangerous tackle just shy of the hour mark.
Team News
Pau Torres and Lucas Digne are still sidelined, while Jacob Ramsey will also miss out.
Jhon Duran has picked up a hamstring injury and Bertrand Traore is representing Burkina Faso at AFCON.
Malo Gusto and Christopher Nkunku have returned to training but won’t be available to face Villa.
The Blues have a lengthy injury list that includes captain Reece James, Wesley Fofana and Marc Cucurella, while Nicolas Jackson is at the AFCON.
The Boss
“They are playing being comfortable and getting stronger and I think they are progressively getting better. They achieved reaching the final of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday and they’re going to face us at home with their supporters. I think they will play thinking of another way to get a trophy in this competition and play in Europe. They are going to be focused because the cup is important for them. I respect them, of course, but I believe if we are competitive like we have been doing then we can be with the possibility to win tomorrow.”
Unai Emery