Joao Pedro helped Chelsea to come back from 1-0 down to beat Aston Villa 4-1 at Villa Park on Wednesday night.
Villa took an early lead through Douglas Luiz, who was a target for Chelsea in the January transfer window.
However, Pedro managed to equalise in the 35th minute before putting the visitors ahead just prior to the half-time whistle. He then completed his hat-trick shortly after the hour mark.
How many Premier League goals will Joao Pedro finish the season with? ⚽️
His hat-trick at Villa Park takes him to 14!
Chelsea's Brazilian striker #20 Joao Pedro scores
Photo by Darren Staples / AFP via Getty Images
Joao Pedro can match Diego Costa’s two 20-goal seasons in the Premier League
Pedro’s hat-trick has taken him to 14 goals in the Premier League this term, a number that the striker can be happy with.
It is the highest number of goals that he has scored in a single English top-flight campaign, and there is still plenty of time for him to add to it.
With that in mind, Pedro will undoubtedly be targeting the 20-goal mark, which no Chelsea centre-forward has reached since Diego Costa.
Diego Costa of Chelsea celebrates
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Costa scored 20 goals on the dot in the 2014/15 and 2016/17 campaigns. The Blues went on to win the Premier League title in both seasons.
Pedro has no chance of helping Liam Rosenior’s men accomplish that this term, but individually, this has been a solid campaign for him.
The 24-year-old is clearly enjoying his football right now. The day he loses his passion and fight, Pedro will quit football, the Brazilian recently revealed.
Joao Pedro’s remaining opponents
Pedro is probably going to have to score against some big clubs if he wants to finish this Premier League season with 20 goals.
Nicolas Jackson could be an option for Chelsea again next season! 👀
Nicolas Jackson, Joao Pedro, Liam Delap and Emanuel Emegha
Photo by S. Mellar/FC Bayern/Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC/George Wood/Mikolaj Barbanell/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
The Club World Cup winners still have Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool to play. Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur will not be easy games either.
Chelsea’s other opponents include: Everton, Brighton & Hove Albion, Nottingham Forest and Sunderland.
Some tricky fixtures, but Pedro will not be fazed given the form that he is in. The Brazil international has easily been one of the best players Chelsea have signed under their current owners.
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