Chelsea moved up to third place in the Premier League after a dominant 3-0 victory over Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge on December 1, 2024. The win extended Chelsea’s unbeaten streak in all competitions to six games, while Aston Villa’s winless run now stretches to eight matches.
Chelsea’s manager, Enzo Maresca, has maintained that his team is not yet ready to challenge for the title, but they are certainly on the right track for a top-four finish and Champions League qualification. With this third consecutive win in just eight days, Chelsea are now level on points with second-placed Arsenal.
Aston Villa, who had enjoyed a memorable Champions League victory over Bayern Munich earlier this season, have struggled in the Premier League. They are currently in 12th place and have only one league win since that European success.
The match saw Chelsea take control early. Nicolas Jackson scored the opening goal just seven minutes in. The Senegalese striker volleyed home Marc Cucurella’s cross from eight yards, sending the ball past Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and into the near post. Villa’s appeals for a foul by Cucurella on Jaden Philogene were dismissed by the referee.
Chelsea’s second came in the 36th minute, when midfielder Enzo Fernandez doubled the lead with a precise strike from 12 yards after controlling the ball with a clever touch. The frustration continued for Villa as Chelsea added a third goal in the 83rd minute. Cole Palmer netted his eighth goal of the season with a brilliant finish from outside the box, sealing a comprehensive victory.
In other Premier League action, Tottenham’s hopes of finishing in the top four were dealt a blow as they were held to a 1-1 draw by 10-man Fulham. Brennan Johnson had put Tottenham ahead in the 54th minute, but Fulham responded with a stunning equalizer from Tom Cairney in the 67th minute.
Cairney was later sent off in the 83rd minute after a foul on Dejan Kulusevski, with the decision upgraded to a red card following a VAR review.
