Chelsea slipped to a 2-1 defeat against Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge, despite leading through Joao Pedro. Ollie Watkins hit two goals after half-time to turn the Premier League match around, leaving Chelsea with one win from six league fixtures and missing a chance to rise above Liverpool into fourth place.
The loss continued a concerning pattern at home, where Chelsea have struggled to protect advantages. In this Premier League season, Chelsea have dropped 11 points from winning positions at Stamford Bridge, which is four more than any other club. The result again raised questions about game management and concentration late on.
Those numbers also affect Enzo Maresca’s record when Chelsea score first at home in the Premier League. Maresca has
now been beaten four times in top-flight matches at Stamford Bridge after going 1-0 ahead. Only Glenn Hoddle, with five such defeats as Chelsea manager, has lost more league home games from that position.
This meeting with Aston Villa seemed under control for a long spell. Joao Pedro had given Chelsea the advantage before half-time, and Aston Villa did not create clear chances for most of the opening hour. However, once Watkins levelled, momentum shifted sharply, and Chelsea failed to respond as Aston Villa grew stronger with each attack.
Enzo Maresca underlined how sharply the contest swung once Aston Villa struck back. Maresca felt Chelsea should have been further ahead before the equaliser and highlighted how the visitors’ substitutions increased pressure. The coach also pointed to issues with experience and decision making once Aston Villa started to control the final stages.
"I think for one hour, until we conceded, we dominated the game, Maresca added. We were very good. Unfortunately, after that, the dynamic of the game changed a little bit. I think by the time they scored to make it 1-1, we should have scored two or three more. If you analyse the first hour of the game, you are not talking about experience. But after that, we struggled with that. The changes they madeWatkins, [Amadou] Onana and [Jadon]Sanchoimproved them a little bit. "
Key match data underlined the contrast between Chelsea’s control and the final outcome. Chelsea held the lead for a long spell yet failed to secure the result, while Aston Villa capitalised on their few clear openings through Watkins. The broader season pattern, with repeated dropped points at home, now places more scrutiny on Chelsea’s late-game discipline.
| Team | Competition | Points dropped at home after leading |
|---|---|---|
| Chelsea | Premier League 2025-26 | 11 |
On the pitch, Reece James accepted that Chelsea’s own mistakes were central to the defeat. James pointed to specific errors leading directly to Aston Villa’s goals, stressing that Chelsea knew Aston Villa’s style well. The defender also insisted Chelsea should have coped better with the tactical tweaks and substitutions introduced by Aston Villa’s bench.
"I think it's always disappointing to lose at home, he said. We dominated 60-65 minutes of the game. The first 60 minutes, they didn't create any chances, and then they get one and then the game changes. I think we came out sharp the way we set up. The way we wanted to play on the front foot in the right way and, in the second half, one or two moments changed the game. They picked up momentum, and it was difficult. They made substitutions. The shape maybe changed slightly, but nothing we shouldn't be able to deal with. We've played them numerous times, and we understand the style and the way they want to play, but I think we need to look at ourselves. We wanted to win, and we didn't, and we're super disappointed. We made one or two errors. One error leads to the corner and the other error leads to Ollie's [Watkins] first goal, so I think we have ourselves to blame. Two errors from us, and we got punished. This is the toughest league in the world. "
Defeat at the Bridge.#CFC | #CHEAVL pic.twitter.com/YHbwCGnZqVChelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 27, 2025
The defeat to Aston Villa leaves Chelsea reflecting on repeated lapses after strong starts in Premier League home games. Both Maresca and James pointed to a dominant first hour followed by a costly drop in level. With top-four ambitions under pressure, tightening up late in matches at Stamford Bridge now appears crucial.
