Chelsea Overcomes Villa's Early Goal
The Spanish player served both goals with which Chelsea overcame Villas' initial goal, threatening to give Frank Lampard's team a scare.
Despite Chelsea's clear dominance from the first half, it was Villa who took the lead just before halftime. A cross from the side was headed inside the area by Villa. Kepa Arrizabalaga responded well to the first header, but the ball remained loose and Kortney Hause tapped it into the net.
Chelsea, in the fight for the Champions League, pressed in the second 45 minutes and achieved the reward.
First, Christian Pulisic equalized. The American made the tie by tapping in a cross to the far post from Azpilicueta. A few minutes later, the Spanish defender found Olivier Giroud inside the area. The Frenchman turned and shot, with luck, as the ball deflected off a defender, changing its trajectory and sneaking into the goal.
Chelsea did not need much more to seal the three points. Villa only had one clear chance until the end of the match, in the boots of Spanish player Jota Peleteiro, and ended up leaving their own field empty-handed.
In this way, Chelsea begins the new normality by adding three points that allow them to distance themselves from direct rivals in the fight for the Champions League, such as Sheffield United, Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur. All of them had setbacks this weekend.
Lampard's team strengthens its hold on fourth place and threatens the third position of Leicester City, which they are now three points away from.
Villa is nineteenth with 26 points, one away from salvation, and missed the opportunity to get out of the relegation zone.