Cole Palmer’s sublime strike capped a fantastic 3-0 victory for Chelsea on Villa Aston at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

With second place Arsenal By winning on Saturday, Chelsea took the opportunity to keep the pressure on the Gunners and moved – at least temporarily – above Manchester City in the process.

Nicholas Jackson opened the scoring with his eighth league goal of the season when he pulled back Marc Cucurellathe center.

Enzo Fernández doubled Chelsea’s lead before half-time, while Palmer‘s superb 20-yard finish put the result beyond doubt in the 83rd minute.

Enzo MarescaThe Madrid side sit third, level on points with Arsenal, while Villa slip to 12th after failing to win any of their last five Premier League matches.

How the match went

Chelsea broke through after just seven minutes. Cucurella dispossessed Jaden Philogene and exchanged passes with Jadon Sanchobefore the Spaniard’s cross was collected by Jackson at the near post.

Villa saw a golden opportunity to equalize when Ollie Watkins, having shown his strength to regain possession on the edge of the Chelsea area, shot straight at Robert Sanchez at point blank range.

Some random goalies from Emiliano Martinez gave Chelsea two good chances to score a second goal, but they were not taken. However, the Blues doubled their advantage in the 36th minute, with Fernandez slotting into the bottom right corner after combining with Palmer.

The visitors’ problems continued when Martinez was forced off the field with an injury at half-time. Nevertheless, they searched for an answer to the reboot and John McGinnThe weak drive was repelled by Sanchez.

However, Villa’s hopes of a comeback were all but extinguished when Palmer curled a magnificent effort into the top left corner, giving Martinez’s substitute Robin Olsen bad luck and making a miserable day worse for Unai Emery‘steam.

Maresca’s momentum continues

Chelsea were quick to get out of the blocks, with a fast start led by Jackson, who scored a debut goal for the sixth time in the Premier League this season.

Palmer had never assisted or scored a goal against Villa in the league, but he quickly rectified that by firing a pass into the feet of Fernandez, who finished brilliantly.

The England star then finished off the victory in magnificent fashion later, scoring his 30th Premier League goal for the Blues.

Chelsea’s momentum under Maresca shows no signs of slowing. Also keeping Villa out at the other end, they recorded their first home clean sheet in the league this season.

More importantly, they are back level on points with Arsenal after the Gunners’ 5-2 win at West Ham United earlier Saturday.

Chelsea are going full throttle under Maresca, whose free-flowing attacking style suits the young Blues side well. Fernandez comes out of his deep-lying midfield role and Jackson proves a constant threat. Leaving out one of last season’s standout teams is another feather in Maresca’s cap.

Villa deemed deficient

Going to Stamford Bridge without a win in seven matches in all competitions, getting back to winning ways on Sunday was always going to be a tricky task for Villa.

However, it was a story of two attackers in the first quarter of an hour.

While the in-form Jackson finished confidently on one side, Watkins’ recent poor form was evident as he fired straight at Sanchez on the other.

Martinez was then unusually careless. Shortly after giving away an indirect free kick, which Palmer was unable to convert, Villa’s number 1 played a pass across his own penalty area directly to Jackson, whose late reaction to the unexpected opportunity allowed the guard to rush and spare his people. blushed.

Even if Martinez was injured in the process and had to give way to Olsen at half-time.

While they tightened up defensively, Villa struggled to generate a consistent attacking threat at the other end of the pitch to get back into the contest.

And they were completely helpless as Palmer waved his left-footed wand to seal a commanding win at Chelsea.

Club reports

Chelsea report| Aston Villa Report

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Key facts

Chelsea have lost just one of their last 14 Premier League home matches (W9 D4), while their total 10 home league wins in 2024 are their most at Stamford Bridge in 2024. ‘one calendar year since 2021 (also 10).

Only Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (41 matches) has reached 30 Premier League goals for Chelsea in fewer appearances than Cole Palmer (46 matches).

Aston Villa have gone winless in five consecutive Premier League matches for the first time since August 2022 under Steven Gerrard; They are currently on the longest winless streak in the top flight (five matches – tied with Everton and Leicester).