A loser who doesn’t suit anyone. Chelsea and Aston Villa failed to decide between themselves this Friday evening during the 4th round of the FA Cup (0-0). In a match where both teams had chances, there was ultimately no winner. The place in the round of 16 will therefore be decided in a “replay” match, in Birmingham on the “Villans” pitch.
In an already busy season, especially for Unai Emery’s men immersed in the race for the Premier League podium (4th), we will therefore have to find the time to add a match against Chelsea to choose a winner. Hoping that the two teams find more inspiration than in this duel announced but never really launched which took place at Stamford Bridge.
Aston Villa finished the match better, like two huge chances which woke up Djordje Petrovic, author of two valuable saves in front of Ollie Watkins (74th) and Matty Cash (76th). It was the Birmingham players who got off to a better start, who even thought they could open the score with a lucky check from Douglas Luiz, ultimately refused by the VAR (13th).
Brilliant Martinez
Between the first and last quarter of an hour, Villa lacked what makes them successful in the league, forward play, intense pressing and an oiled midfield. Enough to leave the ball to the Blues, inspired in the first half then dozing off. Active on his side Chelsea came up against an Emiliano Martinez of great evenings. The dynamic Noni Madueke (16th), and the less inspired Cole Palmer (18th) missed their duel in two minutes against the “Dibu” special: a handball save, the same as against a certain Randal Kolo Muani one evening final in December 2022.
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In a more classic style, the Argentine goalkeeper also diverted a recovery from a teammate (30th) under pressure from Madueke, and a header from French international Benoît Badiashile (45th). One of these last requests, when Mauricio Pochettino’s men returned from the locker room with less energy and fewer interesting races ahead. Regardless, we will have to do everything again on the Birmingham side to hope to go a little further in the competition.