Unai Emery has named his Aston Villa side to face Chelsea in the Premier League (5:30pm kick-off)
Aston Villa striker Donyell Malen
Aston Villa striker Donyell Malen (Image: Getty Images)
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Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has named his starting XI to face Chelsea in this afternoon’s Premier League clash at Stamford Bridge.
He has made two changes to the side that beat Manchester United 2-1 last weekend as Amadou Onana and Ollie Watkins are replaced by Emi Buendia and Donyell Malen.
Emi Martinez starts in goal behind a defence of Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Victor Lindelof and Ian Maatsen.
Boubacar Kamara and Youri Tielemans operate in the double pivot, with Buendia playing as the number 10. John McGinn and Morgan Rogers support striker Malen.
Villa are targeting an 11th straight win this evening, which would match their all-time club record for consecutive victories, set in both September 1897 and March 1914.
They have also won 12 of their 21 Premier League away games against London sides under Emery - more than they managed in their previous 59.
Opponents Chelsea sit one place behind Villa in fourth, but currently trail them by seven points.
The Blues have won three of their last four home matches in all competitions, but have already suffered two league defeats at Stamford Bridge this season, against Brighton and Sunderland.
Villa starting XI: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Lindelof, Maatsen, Kamara, Tielemans, McGinn, Buendia, Rogers, Malen.
Subs: Bizot, Digne, Garcia, Bogarde, Hemmings, Onana, Sancho, Watkins, Jimoh-Aloba.
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