Chelsea and Aston Villa set for Premier League showdown that could shape Champions League qualification

We have reached that period of the Premier League season when every result seemingly carries extra weight and goes under the microscope.

With Chelsea and Aston Villa both chasing a Champions League spot and set to meet at Villa Park on Wednesday night, their clash will certainly have significant ramifications on the race for Europe.

As it stands, Unai Emery's side holds the advantage in terms of points and position, while the Blues are the ones playing catch-up.

But who will come out on top, and what might the result mean for the rest of the season? DAZN News looks ahead to one of midweek's most eye-catching matchups.

Chelsea and Aston Villa to fight for final Champions League place?

After the latest round of Premier League matches, it feels as though Aston Villa and Chelsea will be battling it out for fifth place, which should be enough to secure Champions League football.

The arrival of Michael Carrick at Old Trafford has spurred Manchester United on in the league, and they are now up to third, having gone unbeaten in seven matches since their interim boss took charge.

Liverpool currently sit behind the Villans in the table, and while Arne Slot's men slipped up against Wolves, they have been picking up wins on a more consistent basis.

Villa occupy fourth position, but there is growing concern that they could be the side to miss out on Champions League qualification after a series of underwhelming results and displays.

The West Midlands club's latest setback came in their humbling 2-0 defeat to close rivals and bottom side Wolves, with Emery admitting his dream of winning the title is over.

Liam Rosenior's side have also been stumbling of late, with their narrow defeat to league leaders Arsenal following draws with Leeds United and Burnley.

Given the form of United and Liverpool, this one really does feel like a must-not-lose encounter at Villa Park.

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How the tide has turned since Villa's victory at Stamford Bridge

In the previous encounter between the two sides, it was Villa who came out on top, with an Ollie Watkins second-half brace overcoming Joao Pedro's goal in a 2-1 win.

Not only was that result significant in the race for Europe, but it also paved the way for Enzo Maresca's departure, as the Italian departed five days later following a breakdown in relations with the club.

The table looks only slightly different since then in terms of positions, but as regards points, it highlights how Villa have allowed their rivals to catch up.

After their victory at Stamford Bridge, Emery's side sat in third with an enviable 10-point cushion over the Blues and the Red Devils, but they now boast just a six-point advantage over the West London outfit.

How the battle of Villa Park can be won

While both Aston Villa and Chelsea suffered defeats last weekend, it is the latter who will enter the contest with more confidence, given their performance at the Emirates.

Roseinor's men started slow and fell victim to another Arsenal set-piece masterstroke, but they came back strong and could have taken something from the game if it were not for Pedro Neto's needless sending off.

With Joao Pedro in superb form in front of goal and Reece James capable of world-class delivery, the Blues have the ammunition to hurt what has been a vulnerable Villa defence.

For Villa, there are too many things going wrong right now, and if they are going to walk away with all three points, then they must deliver a performance that has been non-existent in recent weeks.

The Villans have struggled without injured captain John McGinn, as well as Youri Tielemans and Boubacar Kamara, while Watkins is without a goal in his last five league games.

If Emery's men can step up under the lights of Villa Park, then they have got a chance, but Chelsea will relish the opportunity of reaping revenge for their defeat at the Bridge.

Chris Lee - Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images

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