Chelsea face high-flying Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge on December 27, 2025, in a key Premier League match delayed by one day from Boxing Day. Villa sit just three points behind leaders Manchester City and Arsenal after winning seven straight league games, including against Arsenal. Chelsea, trailing in the standings, could use a win to spark their campaign amid upcoming fixtures against Bournemouth and Manchester City.
The match kicks off at 17:30 GMT (12:30 EST) under referee Stuart Attwell, with Paul Howard on VAR duty. Weather forecasts suggest mild, dry, and breezy conditions at Stamford Bridge in London's SW6 postcode.
This encounter pits Chelsea against a resurgent Aston Villa side that has transformed a disappointing start—zero wins and two points from their first five league games—into a title-contending run. Villa have secured seven consecutive league victories and ten across all competitions, embedding themselves in the top three race. Despite scoring fewer goals and conceding more than Chelsea, they lead the Blues by seven points. Key attackers include Donyell Malen, Emiliano Buendía, and leading scorer Morgan Rogers, who have stepped up even as Ollie Watkins remains with the team. Jacob Ramsey's summer move to Newcastle United was a blow, but Villa's form persists in the Europa League too, with Unai Emery eyeing an end to their trophy drought.
Chelsea enter rested after a rare midweek break and two-day Christmas pause. Injuries to Estêvão and Liam Delap have cleared, boosting options, though Levi Colwill, Dário Essugo, and Roméo Lavia remain sidelined. Manager Enzo Maresca serves a one-match suspension for sideline behavior, his second this season. The Blues have managed just two wins in their last seven games across competitions but often elevate against top opponents. Cole Palmer must deliver a standout performance to counter his friendly rivalry with Rogers. Viewers in the UK can tune into Sky Sports Main Event, with streaming on Sky Go; US options include NBC and Peacock.
Last season, Chelsea triumphed 3-0 in this fixture. Absences for Villa include Ross Barkley, Tyrone Mings, and Pau Torres, but ex-Chelsea loanees Ian Maatsen and Jadon Sancho are available—the latter returning to Stamford Bridge from Manchester United. This game opens a pivotal festive stretch for Chelsea, testing if they are true contenders or mere pretenders.
