Villa's Comeback Secures 2-1 Win Over Chelsea, Extending Winning Run
Aston Villa secured a 2-1 victory against Chelsea on 27 December 2025, thanks to Ollie Watkins’ decisive header from a Youri Tielemans corner in the 84th minute. Watkins had come on as a substitute in the 58th minute and had already equalised five minutes after entering the match.
Chelsea opened the scoring in the 37th minute through João Pedro, holding a 1-0 lead at half-time. However, the introduction of Watkins, Jadon Sancho, and Amadou Onana in the 58th minute sparked Villa’s comeback, shifting the dynamics of the game.
Villa lined up in a 4-2-2-2 formation during the first half, with Morgan Rogers and Donyell Malen as central forwards until Watkins’ substitution.
This victory extended Villa’s winning streak to 11 consecutive matches in all competitions and eight in the Premier League, marking their best run since 1910. The 11-game run equalled club records from 1897 and 1914. The win moves Villa three points behind league leaders Arsenal, whom they face next as they seek to sustain their momentum.
Chelsea’s struggles at home continued, with the team dropping 11 points from winning positions in Premier League matches this season. Under Enzo Maresca, Chelsea has lost four home league games when leading 1-0. Maresca also noted that Chelsea should have been awarded a penalty for a Maatsen handball during the match.
