Joao Pedro scores hat-trick as Chelsea crush Villa
Aston Villa 1Luiz (2′)
Chelsea 4Joao Pedro (35′, 45’+6, 64′)
Palmer (55′)
Joao Pedro scored a hat-trick in a thumping – and potentially crucial – victory for Chelsea.
Cole Palmer also netted for the Blues, who hit back in style after going behind to Douglas Luiz’s early goal.
The emphatic win away to fourth-placed Villa closed the gap on them to three points and massively boosted Chelsea’s chances of securing a Champions League spot for next season.
Luiz gave Villa the perfect start, flicking in Leon Bailey’s cross after just two minutes.
Joao Pedro deservedly levelled when he tapped in after being teed up by Malo Gusto’s pass.
The visitors were on top but almost gifted Villa the lead back when Reece James, who played in midfield, gave the ball away and Ollie Watkins fired past keeper Filip Jorgensen – who replaced the dropped Robert Sanchez.
But VAR established that Watkins was narrowly offside and the goal was disallowed.
And a VAR decision went Chelsea’s way in first-half stoppage time when Joao Pedro lifted the ball over keeper Emi Martinez after collecting Enzo Fernandez’s clever pass and was adjudged to have been just onside.
As Villa faded in the second half, Palmer thumped in the third and Joao Pedro completed his hat-trick after being set up by Alejandro Garnacho.
Chelsea: Jorgensen, Gusto (Lavia 75), Fofana (Tosin 79), Chalobah, Hato, Caicedo, James, Palmer (Santos 85), Fernandez (Cucurella 79), Garnacho; Joao Pedro (Delap 85).
Subs not used: Sanchez, Badiashile, Sarr, Guiu.
