Our prediction for this Premier League match:
Chelsea
Match Time & Date:
01/12/2024
14:30
Prediction: 3-1
Aston Villa
Chelsea will aim to continue their strong form when they host Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge. The Blues recorded a routine win over Leicester on the road last weekend, showcasing their growing confidence under Enzo Maresca. With key players fit and firing, Maresca can once again field the best possible starting XI, though Reece James remains is sidelined through injury. As always, a man to watch in the home team will be Cole Palmer.
Aston Villa players, on the other hand, may feel tired after their midweek Champions League clash with Juventus. Unai Emery faces fitness concerns, with Boubacar Kamara, Amadou Onana, Ezri Konsa, and Jacob Ramsey all doubtful for the trip to London. While Villa’s quality can never be underestimated, their depleted squad and potential tiredness could make this a tough clash. Given Chelsea's fine form in the English top flight, we predict that the visitors are going to return to Birmingham empty-handed.
Highlighted Player (Leon Bailey):
Leon Bailey is a Phoenix All Stars Academy product who was born in Kingston on August 9, 1997. The Jamaica international played for the likes of FC Liefering and Trencin during his youth career, but he made his senior debut with Belgian side Genk in August, 2015 in a 3-1 win over Saint-Truiden.
The pacey winger quickly established himself as one of the best players in the Belgian top flight, but he scored only 8 goals in 56 appearances for Genk from 2015 to 2017. In the winter of 2017 Leon Bailey signed a deal with Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen for a fee of €20 million. Bailey is a left-footed footballer, but he is capable of playing on both sides of the field.
The Bayer Leverkusen winger made one appearance for Jamaica U23 team, but he eventually refused to represent the Reggae Boyz at senior level as he has personal problems with the association. It has to be noted that Leon Bailley scored 12 goals in 34 appearances for Bayer Leverkusen in the 2017/2018 Bundesliga season.
Highlighted Team (Chelsea):
Over the years Chelsea have established themselves as one of the dominant forces in the English Premier League. Roberto Di Matteo helped the team win their first ever Champions League trophy (2011/2012), but it has to be noted that they were more than fortunate to beat Bayern Munich in the title game.
Chelsea have been playing at Stamford Bridge since 1876 and they are a real force to be reckoned with at home. The Blues have won seven FA Cups, five League Cups, two UEFA Cup Winners’ Cups and the UEFA Europa League. Rafael Benitez was in charge of the team that faced Benfica in the 2012/2013 Europa League final, with Branislav Ivanovic scoring the winner for the Blues in the title clash.
After lifting the 2014/2015 Premier League trophy, the Blues largely struggled in the next campaign, which saw Jose Mourinho’s second spell with the club come to an end, and Antoine Conte went over to take the reigns for the 2016/2017 season.
Manchester United 
Bodo Glimt
Real Sociedad
Ajax
Slavia Prague 
Fenerbahce
Tottenham
AS Roma
Brighton
Southampton
Barcelona
Las Palmas 
