Chelsea vs Aston Villa: Match preview and team news

Chelsea will attempt to steady their season when they host Aston Villa at Kingsmeadow on Sunday lunchtime, knowing that anything short of victory could endanger their hold on third place in the Barclays Women’s Super League.

Blues boss Sonia Bompastor has branded the club’s final four fixtures “must-win” after a bruising week that brought a 1-1 draw with London City Lionesses and a 3-1 Champions League loss to Arsenal. Chelsea remain two points above the Gunners in the last automatic European-qualification slot, but Arsenal now hold games in hand.

History offers encouragement: Chelsea have defeated Villa in all 11 previous WSL meetings, scoring 28 and conceding only two. The most recent encounter, on 14 September 2025, finished 3-1 to the Londoners at Villa Park.

Aston Villa, however, travel south with momentum after a comeback 2-1 win at Leicester City ended a winless away run that stretched back to November. The result lifted Natalia Arroyo’s side to eighth and maintained their hopes of a second successive late-season surge; last term Villa won their final five league fixtures.

Chelsea’s task has been eased by the return of Australian pair Sam Kerr and Ellie Carpenter after international duty at the Asian Cup. Kerr, who has not started a match since February, is in contention to lead the line. Aggie Beever-Jones is doubtful, and several long-term absentees remain sidelined.

Villa’s injury list is more extensive. Rachel Daly, Gabi Nunes, Paula Tomas and Missy Bo Kearns—ruled out through pregnancy—are all unavailable, but Maya Hijikata returns to the squad after helping Japan at the Asian Cup.

Form guide favours the hosts: Chelsea are unbeaten in their last four league matches and have scored in every WSL clash with Villa since the latter’s promotion. Their home form offers further comfort; the Blues have won their last three at Kingsmeadow and aim for a fourth on the spin.

Villa have taken four points from a possible six after a sobering 7-3 defeat to Tottenham, including a dogged 0-0 draw with champions-elect Manchester City. Yet defensive frailties against the league’s elite have dogged them all campaign; 28 of their 31 goals conceded against Chelsea alone illustrate the scale of Sunday’s challenge.

Chelsea predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Hampton; Carpenter, Girma, Buurman, Baltimore; Rytting Kaneryd, Potter, Kaptein, Nusken, Thompson; Kerr.

Aston Villa predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Roebuck; Wilms, Patten, Parker, Nighswonger; Jean-Francois, Taylor; Grant, Kendall, Maritz; Hanson.

Kick-off is at midday, with live coverage on Sky Sports and the Sky Go app.