Chelsea and Aston Villa are two staples of the English top-flight, regularly locking horns since their first meeting at the beginning of the 20th century.
Both clubs have enjoyed huge domestic success over the years, with league titles and FA Cups aplenty, as well as triumphs on the continent too. Chelsea may have had more joy in recent years, but Aston Villa are a resurgent force.
With some mighty battles over the years, here's a rundown of the complete head-to-head record between Chelsea and Aston Villa.
Memorable meetings
Aston Villa 2-6 Chelsea - 17 September 1966
Just two months after England's 1966 World Cup final triumph, Chelsea would enjoy a memorable win against Aston Villa in the top flight. The Villans had been beaten 6-1 by fellow Midlands side West Bromwich Albion in their previous match and conceded another half-dozen just a week later.
The Blues ran riot at Villa Park, racing into a four-goal half-time lead. Bobby Tambling grabbed a hat-trick, with John Boyle also getting in on the act in a one-sided opening half.
John MacLeod and Tony Hateley scored two goals in two minutes to give Villa a glimmer of hope, but Tambling would bag himself a second-half brace to take his tally to five for the afternoon, and Chelsea's to six.
Chelsea 1-0 Aston Villa - 20 May 2000
Roberto Di Matteo had a habit of scoring in FA Cup finals, doing so in the 1997 contest between Chelsea and Middlesbrough after just 43 seconds. It took the Italian a little longer to notch in the 2000 final against Aston Villa, but he still managed to find a decisive goal for the Blues.
Gianfranco Zola's fierce free-kick delivery was spilt by David James with 73 minutes played, the ball rebounding off Gareth Southgate and straight into the path of a grateful Di Matteo. The future Chelsea and (briefly) Villa manager slammed home from close range to continue his love affair with the old Wembley Stadium.
It was only Chelsea's third FA Cup triumph at the time. The west Londoners have won five more since.
Aston Villa 3-2 Chelsea - 12 April 2004
Aston Villa were enjoying a particularly fruitful spell against Chelsea when they welcomed the Blues to Villa Park in 2004, winning three of their last five against them. This victory would make it four in six for the Midlands side, even though they fell behind early on to Hernan Crespo's tap-in.
Luckily for Villa, Mario Melchiot was on hand to bundle into the back of Gareth Barry, with Darius Vassell tucking home the subsequent penalty to equalise just before half-time. After the break, Thomas Hitzlsperger rifled home a wonderful low effort to put Villa in front, with Lee Hendrie securing the points after converting Peter Crouch's flick-on.
Crespo then produced the goal of the match with an excellent turn and curled finish into the far corner, but it proved nothing more than a consolation for the Blues.
Chelsea 4-4 Aston Villa - 26 December 2007
Eight-goal thrillers don't come much more dramatic than this one. Things were going swimmingly for Villa until first-half stoppage time as Shaun Maloney's brace gave the visitors a two-goal advantage, the second of which came courtesy of a rare Petr Cech gaffe.
However, Zat Knight saw red late in the first half for denying Michael Ballack a goalscoring opportunity, with Andriy Shevchenko putting the resulting penalty beyond Scott Carson. The comeback was well and truly on, with Chelsea's Ukrainian forward slamming home a beautiful equaliser shortly after the break.
Shevchenko then turned provider for Alex, who converted his teammate's pass with aplomb, but Martin Laursen would give Villa something to hold on to late on after tucking home Ashley Young's free-kick.
But the drama wasn't over just yet, Ricardo Carvalho was sent off for Chelsea following his two-footed lunge. Ballack's smart free-kick would put the hosts ahead with two minutes to play, but this time Ashley Cole was sent off for handling on the line in the 90th minute. Gareth Barry converted the spot kick to make it 4-4 and conclude an utterly breathless encounter.
Chelsea 8-0 Aston Villa - 23 December 2012
In a far less even eight-goal game, Chelsea produced a remarkable showing against a dire Villa side. Fernando Torres scored a lovely header after just three minutes to give the Blues the lead, with David Luiz doubling their advantage from a wonderful free kick.
Branislav Ivanovic headed in for three following a corner, with Frank Lampard netting a stunner from 25 yards to make it four after the break. The Brazilian duo of Ramires and Oscar would grab numbers five and six for the Blues before Eden Hazard slammed home a seventh with seven minutes to play.
Ramires then poured even more salt in the gaping Villa wounds, bagging his second in stoppage time. For the Villans, it was a truly disastrous display.
Chelsea vs Aston Villa - Complete H2H record
- Games played: 163
- Chelsea wins: 68
- Draws: 35
- Aston Villa wins: 60
Chelsea vs Aston Villa - Premier League H2H record
- Games played: 57
- Chelsea wins: 29
- Draws: 13
- Aston Villa wins: 15
Top scorers in Chelsea vs Aston Villa Premier League fixtures
Player | Team | Goals |
|---|---|---|
Frank Lampard | Chelsea | 12 |
Branislav Ivanovic | Chelsea | 5 |
Tore Andre Flo | Chelsea | 4 |
Didier Drogba | Chelsea | 4 |
Romelu Lukaku | Chelsea | 3 |
