Chelsea
Enzo Maresca’s team is on an impressive run of four unbeaten matches in the Premier League. The London side defeated Newcastle and Leicester, both with a 2-1 scoreline, and earned draws against Manchester United and Arsenal (both 1-1). This consistency has helped the team solidify its place in the top four, reducing the gap to second-placed Manchester City to a minimum.
Notably, with 23 goals scored, the Londoners rank among the most prolific teams in the league — only Liverpool (24) and Tottenham (27) have scored more. During the midweek, the team played an away match against Heidenheim in the Europa Conference League, where a rotated squad secured a 2-0 victory.
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Aston Villa
Meanwhile, the Birmingham side is going through tough times, having failed to win any of their last four Premier League games. At home, Aston Villa drew with Bournemouth (1-1) and Crystal Palace (2-2), while suffering heavy defeats on the road to Tottenham (1-4) and Liverpool (0-2).
This slump is reminiscent of the end of last season when the team also struggled to find their form. The winless streak has taken a toll on their league position, dropping Aston Villa to eighth place. However, the situation is not dire: they are only three points behind Chelsea, who currently occupy a European spot. During midweek, Aston Villa drew 1-1 at home against Juventus in the Champions League.
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