CHELSEA VS ASTON VILLA PREVIEW

Chelsea and Aston Villa have the opportunity to move to the top of the Premier League when they meet at Stamford Bridge in a match rearranged due to the Blues' participation in the European Super Cup.

Both sides enjoyed winning starts to the league season, but it was Villa who recorded the most impressive victory of the opening weekend. Two goals from Christian Benteke and a late third from Antonio Luna piled on further misery for Arsenal's already disillusioned supporters.


For Chelsea, the three points were assured more sedately following the return of Jose Mourinho, Oscar opening the scoring before Frank Lampard made amends for an early missed penalty in their 2-0 success against Hull City.
Chelsea are clear second favourites for the title following the return of Mourinho, and will be expected to see off the challenge that Villa pose. The addition of Andre Schurrle and Marco van Ginkel to an attacking set-up already packed with talent should make for an entertaining strategy under Mourinho, who is yet to give up hope on persuading Manchester United to part with Wayne Rooney.
For Villa fans, the fixture will have painful recent memories. It is less than eight months since they saw their side thrashed 8-0 in the corresponding game last season. It was the heaviest loss of the season, Villa's worst-ever margin of defeat in the top flight and the first time in the Premier League that seven different players had scored for the same team.

The long-term picture also indicates that Chelsea should be confident of victory. Villa have won just one of their last 11 league visits to Stamford Bridge, whilst Chelsea have won the last three meetings, scoring 14 goals.
However, there is a feeling that Paul Lambert's side have turned the corner following the struggles of last season and the retention of Benteke has been supplemented by five signings from across Europe.
Benteke will hope to fare better than the last time the two sides met. He managed to score but was later sent off as Villa let a lead slip to lose 2-1 as Frank Lampard broke Bobby Tambling's goalscoring record for Chelsea.

Defenders David Luiz and Tomas Kalas are Chelsea's only absentees for their Premier League clash with Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge.

Brazil centre-back Luiz has a hamstring problem, but could return for Monday's trip to Manchester United, while Kalas suffered a fractured leg in pre-season.
Mourinho may opt to make a number of changes from the side which began last Sunday's 2-0 defeat of Hull City with the Old Trafford clash in mind.

Aston Villa defender Nathan Baker will miss his side's trip to West London due to an ankle injury.

The centre-back was forced off during Villa's 3-1 win at Arsenal on Saturday and was replaced by Ciaran Clark, who should start in his place at Stamford Bridge.
Manager Lambert should, however, welcome back key midfielder Yacouba Sylla, who missed the Emirates trip due to a twisted ankle. Midfielder Chris Herd (calf) is still not quite ready to return to action.