Chelsea welcome Aston Villa to Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon as the Premier League returns from a two week break for international fixtures.
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Chelsea entered the international break having won three of their last four matches in all competitions, a much better record than the one win in 12 they experienced prior to their recent good form.
Graham Potter’s side are experiencing a season of transition following the arrival of a new club owner in the summer, as well as a Potter’s arrival in September from Brighton.
The west London side have spent in the region of £550million on transfers this season, but the results on the pitch haven’t reflected the cash that has been put into the club.
The Blues are down in 10th place, despite finishing last season in third, but European football could still be on the cards for them next season.
Chelsea are still in the Champions League, having made it to the quarter-final stage but have been drawn against defending champions Real Madrid in the last eight.
Winning that tournament could be the club’s best chance of playing Champions League football next season, with there currently being an 11 point gap between themselves and fourth placed Tottenham.
A top six finish will likely be enough to achieve Europa League football next season, while a seventh place finish should secure a qualifying spot in the Europa Conference League – the Blues are just four points off both positions.
Aston Villa have also come into a good vein of form at a good time, also ending a recent losing streak with three wins in their last four games.
Unai Emery’s side are level on points with Saturday’s opponents, and have dragged themselves well clear of being in any danger regarding the nine-team relegation battle that’s taking place this season, with Villa now 11 points ahead of the relegation scrap.
Chelsea have won all of the last four meetings against Aston Villa, who have won just one of the last 13 meetings, losing 11 of them.
The last time Villa won at Stamford Bridge was 11 years ago, when Stephen Ireland, Stilyan Petrov and Darren Bent scored in a 3-1 come-from-behind win for Alex McLeish’s side.
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