Chelsea 1-2 Aston Villa: Ollie Watkins strikes twice as Unai Emery's side win 11th game in a row to boost title bid

Chelsea vs Aston Villa; Premier League Chelsea vs Aston Villa. Premier League. Image:Ollie Watkins made a huge statement with two goals having been dropped from the starting team Image:Aston Villa were transformed by a triple substitution on 59 minutes Stamford Bridge. Chelsea 1-2 Aston Villa: Ollie Watkins strikes twice as Unai Emery's side win 11th game in a row to boost title bid Report and free match highlights as Aston Villa come from behind with two Ollie Watkins goals to make it 11 wins in a row in all competitions and close gap on Premier League leaders Arsenal back to three points; Chelsea were dominant and led through Joao Pedro but stay fifth Saturday 27 December 2025 19:55, UK Super-sub Ollie Watkins struck twice as Aston Villa pulled off an incredible turnaround to beat Chelsea 2-1 as they boosted their title bid with a club-record equalling 11th win in a row. Make no mistake, Unai Emery's Villa are in the Premier League title race, three points off the summit - and they go to Arsenal on Tuesday with the opportunity to pull level with the league leaders. They sure didn't look like champion contenders for the first hour at Stamford Bridge, pummelled onto the ropes by a Chelsea side who led through Joao Pedro's touch from a Reece James corner. But a masterful Emery triple change shifted the narrative, a Benoit Badiashile error allowed Watkins to force in an equaliser and then the striker soared to head in Youri Tielemans' corner in the 84th minute to spark wild celebrations from the visiting supporters and dugout. | As it happened | Teams Stats | Live Premier League table Watch FREE PL highlights Got Sky? Watch Premier League games LIVE on your phone 📱 Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW 📺 Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca, suspended and sat at the back of the press box, looked crushed. Villa have won more points from losing positions than any side - but Maresca's young team should never have let them back into this contest. There was brilliance from Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez to keep out Joao Pedro and a mis-hit cross from James but also wasteful finishes from Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernandez as Chelsea squandered complete control of the match. Villa's title bid is alive - Chelsea's top-four hopes hit. They stay fifth, a massive 13 points off the top of the table. 'One of the great impact subs in Premier League history' Chelsea had 71 per cent possession in the first half and registered 1.93 in Expected Goals. Villa didn't manage a single shot. The game looked to be going a similar way after the break, with Ian Maatsen surviving handball shouts from Chelsea players wanting a penalty when Alejandro Garnacho's cross hit him. VAR deemed his arm to be in a natural position. There was a crucial piece of defending from John McGinn, too, preventing Garnacho from capping a swift counter. But when Emery...

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