Chelsea was again on the losing side as Aston Villa defeated them on Saturday in the Premier League. The Blues took the lead through an Enzo Fernández goal, but a brace from Marco Asensio turned the match in the home side’s favor. The defeat means Chelsea are winless on the road in the Premier League since early December, losing all four of their last away matches.
Here are the key takeaways from the match:
1. Promising Start and First-Half Performance
As seen in recent matches, Chelsea started on the front foot. They were able to keep the high intensity for much of the first half, something they’ve struggled to do in previous games. They deservedly took the lead through Enzo Fernández early, who finished off a brilliant cross from Pedro Neto after some excellent play by the Portuguese international. The visitors had multiple opportunities to extend their lead but failed to capitalize.
There were also noticeable changes in Chelsea’s setup. Reece James was deployed in midfield alongside Moisés Caicedo, with Enzo Fernández positioned slightly higher up the pitch. Christopher Nkunku operated mainly on the left wing. Pedro Neto played as the center forward with Cole Palmer on the right behind him.
For the first time in weeks, Enzo Maresca showed some tactical flexibility. Malo Gusto, starting at left-back, frequently overlapped, providing support for Cole Palmer on the right. However, he eventually reverted to his usual patterns, and the match slipped away from his team.