Game #5587
Aston Villa
Sunday, 23 May 2021
Won
11th (-)
Last 5: 🟥 🟨 🟥 🟩 🟩
Premier League
Attendance: Partial closed doors
(COVID-19)
Chelsea
Villa Park
Villa end the season with successive wins as Chelsea are beaten but a welcome 11th placed finish is tempered with disappointment after the incredible start to the campaign promised so much more.
Aston Villa
2-1
Chelsea
Assist(s) | Matt Targett | 43' |
KEY MAN
Anwar El Ghazi celebrates putting Villa 2-1 up from the penalty spot vs. Chelsea, 23 May 2021
PREVIOUS MATCH
NEXT MATCH
MATCH TIMELINE
Sunday, 23 May 2021
⚽ | 43’ Goal, 1-0 Bertrand Traoré, Assist Matt Targett
⏱️ | HT Aston Villa 1-0 Chelsea
⚽ | 52’ Goal, 2-0 Anwar El Ghazi (pen)
🟨 | 65’ Booking, John McGinn
🥅 | 70’ Goal, 2-1 (Chelsea), Ben Chilwell
🔁 | 73’ Sub off, Bertrand Traoré, Sub on, Carney Chukwuemeka
🟨 | 75’ Booking, Marvelous Nakamba
🔁 | 79’ Sub off, Anwar El Ghazi, Sub on, Jacob Ramsey
🟨 | 81’ Booking, Emiliano Martínez
🟥 | 89’ Sending off, (Chelsea), César Azpilicueta
⏱️ | FT Aston Villa 2-1 Chelsea
ON THIS DAY
Right back Matt Targett makes his 70th appearance for Villa since joining from Southampton in July 2019 and became the first outfield Villa player in a decade to start every league game in a season.
Midfielder Marvelous Nakamba makes his 50th appearance for Villa since joining the club from Club Brugge KV on 1 August 2019.
Meanwhile, youth team product Jack Grealish makes his final appearance for the club ahead of a record transfer fee move to Abu Dhabi.
Villa played in front of their own fans for the first time since February 16, 2020 - 462 days previously.
Aston Villa
European Cup / Champions League: 🏆
UEFA Cup / Europa League: ❌
UEFA Cup Winners Cup: ❌
League Champions: 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 🏆🏆
FA Cup Winners: 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 🏆🏆
League Cup Winners: 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
Last Trophy: 1995-96
Chelsea
European Cup / Champions League: 🏆
UEFA Cup / Europa League: 🏆🏆
UEFA Cup Winners Cup: 🏆🏆
League Champions: 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 🏆
FA Cup Winners: 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 🏆🏆🏆
League Cup Winners: 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
Last Trophy: 2018-19
FIXTURE HISTORY
Chelsea
Previous 5 vs. Chelsea: 🟥 🟥 🟥 🟥 🟨
FIXTURE DETAILS
Season | 2020-21 |
Matchday | #42 |
League Match | #38 |
Manager Game | #125 |
Sunday, 23 May 2021
Attendance | bcd |
MATCH SUMMARY
Manager: Dean Smith | 🏴 | West Bromwich, 2018-2021
Referee: Stuart Attwell | 🏴 | Nuneaton, 2007-
Kick off: 4.00pm
HT Score: 🟩 1-0
FT Result: 🟩 Won
FT Score: 🟩 2-1
Last 5: 🟥 🟨 🟥 🟩 🟩
MANAGERIAL RECORD
Dean Smith | 🏴 |
GAMES | WINS | DRAWS | LOSSES | POINTS PER GAME
🕒 125 | 🟩 | 52 🟨 | 26 🟥 47 | 1.46
Career Form:
Top 8
Dean Smith | 🏴 |
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Stuart Attwell | 🏴 | Nuneaton, 2007-
Previous 5: 🟩 🟨 🟩 🟨 🟨
Last Match: 🟨 25 Apr 21, Villa 2-2 Albion (h)
Cards: 🟥 🟨 🟨 🟨 🟨 🟨 🟨 🟨
Assistants: Simon Long, Neil Davies
Stuart Attwell
CARDS
Villa
🟨 🟨 🟨
Chelsea
🟥 🟨 🟨 🟨 🟨
TEAM NEWS
Dean Smith names an unchanged line up from the team that beat Tottenham in the previous fixture.
Ezri Konsa continues at right back with Kortney Hause partnering Tyrone Mings in the centre of defence.
Matt Targett starts the final league game of the season making the only outfield ever present in the Premier League in 2020-21. Marvelous Nakamba retains his place in midfield ahead of Douglas Luiz.
With Ross Barkley ineligible to play against his former club, Keinan Davis returns to the squad whilst Jed Steer and Björn Engels are not selected with the latter without an appearance in 2020-21 despite being named in 23 squads. Engels' last appearance had come on Monday, 9 March 2020.
Morgan Sanson, Trézéguet and Matty Cash remain out with long term injuries while debutants from the previous fixture Carney Chukwuemeka and Jaden Philogene-Bidace retain their squad places.
TEAM STATS
Starting XI Average Age: | 26.27 |
Oldest Player: GK Emiliano Martínez | 🇦🇷 | 28.74 |
Youngest Player: CB Ezri Konsa | 🏴 | 23.60 |
MANAGER
MANAGER
Dean Smith | 🏴 |
Thomas Tuchel | 🇩🇪 |
Aston Villa
GK Emiliano Martínez | 🇦🇷 | 🟨 |
CB Tyrone Mings | 🏴 |
CB Ezri Konsa | 🏴 |
CB Kortney Hause | 🏴 |
LB Matt Targett | 🏴 | 🔥 |
M Jack Grealish | 🏴 | 🔴 |
M John McGinn | 🏴 | 🟨 |
M Marvelous Nakamba | 🇿🇼 | 🟨 |
W Anwar El Ghazi | 🇳🇱 | ⚽ | 🔁 |
W Bertrand Traoré | 🇧🇫 | ⚽ | 🔁 |
CF Ollie Watkins | 🏴 |
Chelsea
GK Edouard Mendy | 🇸🇳 | 🔁 |
LB Ben Chilwell | 🏴 | ⚽ |
CB Antonio Rüdiger | 🇩🇪 |
CB Thiago Silva | 🇧🇷 |
RB Reece James | 🏴 |
RB César Azpilicueta | 🇪🇸 | 🟥 |
M Jorginho | 🇮🇹 | 🟨 | 🔁 |
M Mateo Kovačić | 🇭🇷 | 🟨 | 🔁 |
M Mason Mount | 🏴 |
W Christian Pulišić | 🇺🇸 |
CF Timo Werner | 🇩🇪 | 🟨 |
SUBSTITUTES
🔁 | M Carney Chukwuemeka | 🏴 | for W Bertrand Traoré | 🇧🇫 | 73' |
🔁 | M Jacob Ramsey | 🏴 | for W Anwar El Ghazi | 🇳🇱 | 79' |
SUBSTITUTES
🔁 | GK Kepa Arrizabalaga | 🇪🇸 | 🟨 | for GK Edouard Mendy | 🇸🇳 | 46’ |
🔁 | W Hakim Ziyech | 🇲🇦 | for M Jorginho | 🇮🇹 | 60’ |
🔁 | M Kai Havertz | 🇩🇪 | for M Mateo Kovačić | 🇭🇷 | 66’ |
UNUSED SUBSTITUTES
GK Tom Heaton | 🏴 |
LB Neil Taylor | 🏴 |
RB Ahmed Elmohamady | 🇪🇬 |
M Douglas Luiz | 🇧🇷 |
W Jaden Philogene-Bidace | 🏴 |
CF Wesley | 🇧🇷 |
CF Keinan Davis | 🏴 |
UNUSED SUBSTITUTES
CB Andreas Christensen | 🇩🇰 |
CB Kurt Zouma | 🇫🇷 |
LB Marcus Alonso | 🇪🇸 |
M Billy Gilmour | 🏴 |
W Callum Hudson-Odoi | 🏴 |
CF Olivier Ground | 🇫🇷 |
SQUAD STATS
1st XI Cost: £134.86m
Home Nation 🏴 🏴 🏴 🇬🇧 : 7/11
Homegrown: 1/11
Subs Cost: £0.00m
Team Cost: £134.86m
Squad Cost: £181.38m
Home Nation 🏴 🏴 🏴 🇬🇧 : 13/20
Homegrown: 4/20
MATCHDAY SQUAD
GK Emiliano Martínez | 🇦🇷 | £19.58m |
GK Tom Heaton | 🏴 | £7.92m |
LB Matt Targett | 🏴 | £14.04m |
RB Ahmed Elmohamady | 🇪🇬 | £0.99m |
LB Neil Taylor | 🏴 | Exchange |
CB Tyrone Mings | 🏴 | £20.60m |
CB Ezri Konsa | 🏴 | £11.97m |
CB Kortney Hause | 🏴 | £2.70m |
M Douglas Luiz | 🇧🇷 | £15.12m |
M Marvelous Nakamba | 🇿🇼 | £10.80m |
M John McGinn | 🏴 | £2.79m |
M Jack Grealish | 🏴 | Youth |
M Jacob Ramsey | 🏴 | Youth |
M Carney Chukwuemeka | 🏴 | Youth |
W Bertrand Traoré | 🇧🇫 | £16.56m |
W Anwar El Ghazi | 🇳🇱 | £8.10m |
W Jaden Philogene-Bidace | 🏴 | Youth |
CF Ollie Watkins | 🏴 | £27.72m |
CF Wesley | 🇧🇷 | £22.50m |
CF Keinan Davis | 🏴 | Free |
SQUAD STATS
1st XI Cost: £301.58m
Home Nation 🏴 🏴 🏴 🇬🇧 : 3/11
Homegrown: 2/11
Subs Cost: £180.00m
Team Cost: £491.58m
Squad Cost: £508.68m
Home Nation 🏴 🏴 🏴 🇬🇧 : 5/20
Homegrown: 5/20
MATCHDAY SQUAD
GK Kepa Arrizabalaga | 🇪🇸 | £72.00m |
GK Edouard Mendy | 🇸🇳 | £21.06m |
LB Ben Chilwell | 🏴 | £44.00m |
RB César Azpilicueta | 🇪🇸 | £7.92m |
RB Reece James | 🏴 | Youth |
LB Marcus Alonso | 🇪🇸 | Free |
CB Antonio Rüdiger | 🇩🇪 | £31.50m |
CB Kurt Zouma | 🇫🇷 | £12.50m |
CB Andreas Christensen | 🇩🇰 | Youth |
CB Thiago Silva | 🇧🇷 | Free |
M Kai Havertz | 🇩🇪 | £72.00m |
M Jorginho | 🇮🇹 | £51.30m |
M Mateo Kovacic | 🇭🇷 | £40.50m |
M Mason Mount | 🏴 | Youth |
M Billy Gilmour | 🏴 | Youth |
W Christian Pulisic | 🇺🇸 | £57.60m |
M Hakim Ziyech | 🇲🇦 | £36.00m |
W Callum Hudson-Odoi | 🏴 | Youth |
CF Timo Werner | 🇩🇪 | £47.70m |
CF Olivier Ground | 🇫🇷 | £14.60m |
UNAVAILABLE
Injury | 3 |
M Morgan Sanson | 🇫🇷 | Knee
W Trézéguet | 🇪🇬 | Ligament
RB Matty Cash | 🇵🇱 | Hamstring
Loan Terms | 1 |
M Ross Barkley | 🏴 | Unable to play against parent club
Out on Loan | 3 |
M Conor Hourihane | 🇮🇪 | Swansea
RB Frédéric Guilbert | 🇫🇷 | Strasbourg
GK Lovre Kalinić | 🇭🇷 | Hajduk Split
Not Selected | 2 |
GK Jed Steer | 🏴 |
CB Björn Engels | 🇧🇪 |
UNAVAILABLE
Not Recorded
Player Positions:
GK : Goalkeeper
CB, D, B : Centre Back, Defender, Back
FB, LB, RB, WH : Full Back, Left Back, Right Back, Wing Back, Wing Half
M, CH, LH, RH : Midfielder, Centre Half, Left Half, Right Half
W, OL, OR : Winger, Outside Left, Outside Right
F, IF, IL, IR : Forward, Inside Forward, Inside Left, Inside Right, Second Striker, False 9
CF : Centre Forward
Match Symbols:
⚽ | Goal
🔥 | Assist
🔁 | Substitution
🟨 | Booking
🟥 | Sending off
🆘 | Poor refereeing performance
🟢 : Debut 🔴 : Final Game
DEBUT APPEARANCES
FINAL APPEARANCES
🔴 M Jack Grealish | 🏴 |
🔴 RB Ahmed Elmohamady | 🇪🇬 | Final Squad Appearance |
🔴 LB Neil Taylor | 🏴 | Final Squad Appearance |
MATCH STATS
Possession F | 29%
Possession A | 71%
Shots F | 6
Shots A | 23
Shots on Target F | 3
Shots on Target A | 7
Corners F | 2
Corners A | 9
Fouls F | 11
Fouls A | 12
TABLE
PROGRAMME
MATCHDAY QUOTES
Pre Match
*Villa manager Dean Smith*
*Sunday, 23 May 2021*
"The players know the expectation of the Villa fans and what they want to see.
"There will certainly be a motivation for all my players. Having the 10,000 fans back will make it, not a normal Villa Park, but one that will motivate myself and the players."
------
Post Match
*Villa manager Dean Smith*
*Sunday, 23 May 2021*
"It was the ideal way to end the season, we came up against a very good team today and gave everything for the shirt.
"Disappointed we did not get the record of clean sheets for Emiliano Martinez, who still holds it level with Brad Friedel. He made some good saves and for all the possession Chelsea had, he made comfortable saves. He has been a magnificent signing and is well respected in the dressing room.
"We all have injuries, we lost Jack Grealish and we have had to deal with it. I had an expected goals table of finishing ninth and we are thereabouts.
"Our target is to progress again and we have players here more than capable of competing with the best teams in the league. When Grealish comes out of the team we have to be more creative."
---
*BBC Sport*
*Sunday, 23 May 2021*
Chelsea pipped Leicester to a spot in next season's Champions League despite losing to Aston Villa on the final day of the Premier League season.
The Blues had started the day in third spot, knowing victory over their mid-table opponents would guarantee a place in the group stage of Europe's prestigious knockout club competition.
Thomas Tuchel's side carved out the better chances but fell behind when Bertrand Traore's attempt went in off the underside of the crossbar following Matt Targett's corner.
It went from bad to worse for Chelsea when Edouard Mendy was injured, making him a doubt for next Saturday's Champions League final with Manchester City.
Substitute keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga was beaten by Anwar El Ghazi's second-half penalty after former Chelsea player Traore was fouled by Jorginho, before Ben Chilwell pulled one back for the visitors from close range.
Chelsea finished the game with 10 men after captain Cesar Azpilicueta's straight red card for a foul on Jack Grealish, but Leicester's home defeat by Tottenham means Tuchel's side finish the season in fourth on 67 points - one more than fifth-placed Leicester.
From ninth to Champions League spot
On a dramatic final day, Tuchel and his players experienced a full range of emotions before it was finally confirmed they had secured a Champions League group place.
It is an impressive achievement considering the Blues were ninth when Tuchel took charge in January, and of course his side could yet end the season by being crowned champions of Europe.
But they will have to play better - and show more discipline - than they did against Villa if they are to win in Porto next weekend after their first Premier League away defeat under the German.
Traore was unmarked when he fired Villa ahead, while Jorginho's foul on the Villa midfielder gifted the hosts a second goal from the spot.
Azpilicueta can have few complaints about his red card but most worrying for Tuchel will be the fitness of Mendy.
The Senegal keeper has settled well since arriving from Rennes in September and proved a calming influence on the defenders in front of him. Tuchel will hope his injury does not hamper his plans for next weekend.
Testing summer for Villa
Villa ended a highly satisfactory season with a thrilling win in front of their own fans, and their total of 55 points is 20 more than they managed last season when they escaped relegation on the final day of the campaign.
In front of England boss Gareth Southgate, who names his squad for the European Championship on Tuesday, Villa produced a performance oozing character - but manager Dean Smith faces a big summer.
Grealish's return from injury has added energy to the side but will the captain be at his hometown club next season?
The midfielder, who finished the league season with six goals and 10 assists, continues to attract attention which will no doubt only intensify should he be picked for England for the delayed Euro 2020.
Fellow midfielder Ross Barkley looks likely to return to Chelsea now his loan is over but Villa's future appears to be in good hands.
Ollie Watkins has ended his debut top-flight season with 14 goals while goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has proved a bargain, the Argentine keeping 15 Premier League clean sheets since arriving for £17m last September.
'Massive positives' - what they said
Aston Villa boss Dean Smith: "I think the fans helped us over the line against a very good Chelsea team. The first 20 minutes I had to count there wasn't more than 11 of them as they seemed to get overloads all over the pitch.
"It's been a season of progression and to finish six places and 20 points higher than we did last season is a sure sign.
"There are massive positives to take from this season but we know we must get better."
Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. With thanks to Trinity Mirror. Digitised by Findmypast Newspaper Archive Limited. All rights reserved. Source: British Newspaper Archive (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)