Chelsea will need to build from a solid defensive base if they are to claim all three points against an in-form Aston Villa side. The two teams meet at Kingsmeadow this afternoon.
Chelsea’s Record Against Aston Villa
Chelsea have a good record against the Villans, having won all 11 of their previous Women’s Super League meetings. During those games, they have scored 28 goals and conceded just twice.
That includes a 3-1 victory at Villa Park back in September. Goals by Aggie Beever-Jones, Keira Walsh and Sam Kerr ensured the points came back to west London with the Blues.
Aston Villa’s Recent Form
Sonia Bompastor won’t be underestimating our Sunday-afternoon opponents. Aston Villa have showed some strong form since the international break, earning a 0-0 draw with league leaders Manchester City, before beating Leicester City 2-1 in their last match.
‘Aston Villa come into the game in really good form, with the last two results being really good results,’ said the Blues head coach. ‘They tied against Man City, which was a great result for them, and I think they will be confident. They have nothing to lose, so they will be a difficult team to break down.
‘They have quality in the team. They play well as a team, but also they have some great individuals with players who have a lot of experience.
‘We will have to be at our best if we want to have a good result on Sunday.’
Key Battle: Countering Villa’s Transition
Bompastor also identified what could be a key factor in the game. She highlighted Aston Villa’s threat during turnovers in possession as a key threat Chelsea will need to counter.
‘They are a team who have strengths in terms of transition,’ she added. ‘So I think it will be important for us in terms of the defensive aspects to have a compact block and also to keep the balance in the team.
‘I think that’s what we have been trying to do as much as we can, because we know most of the teams are trying to exploit that from us.
‘So we know what we want to do in terms of the game plan going into that game and we are very much aware of their strengths in transition.’
The Blues’ task is clear then. Hopefully that plan can pay off with three more points to add to our tally as we approach the conclusion of a tight race for UEFA Women’s Champions League qualification.