At Villa Park, Aston Villa started brightly and took the lead in the 2nd minute. Leon Bailey accelerated down the right wing before delivering a perfect cross for Douglas Luiz to tap in from close range, beating Filip Jorgensen – who was surprisingly given the starting spot over Robert Sanchez.

However, that was all they could manage. In the 35th minute, Chelsea responded clinically. Enzo Fernandez played an accurate ball for Malo Gusto, who burst down the right wing and then delivered a cross for Joao Pedro to stretch and tap the ball into an open net.

The VAR decision to disallow Ollie Watkins' offside goal is shown on the big screen. *Photo: PA*

The drama escalated in the 41st minute. Ollie Watkins put the ball into the net, and the Villa Park stands erupted once more. However, VAR intervened, taking several minutes to confirm a tight offside call and disallow the goal.

Immediately after the controversial disallowed goal, the hosts conceded a second. In the sixth minute of added time, Joao Pedro entered the penalty area and chipped the ball with his left foot across goal, sending it diagonally out of Emiliano Martinez's reach.

Chelsea had 11 shots in the first half – the most by a visiting team at Villa Park in the opening 45 minutes of a Premier League match since Man City did so in 12/2021. This also marked the first time since 2/2023, in a match against Leicester City, that Aston Villa found themselves trailing at halftime in the Premier League despite scoring first.

In the second half, Chelsea's advantage allowed them to play with greater fluidity. In the 55th minute, Martinez parried Reece James's cross, but the ball landed perfectly for Cole Palmer. The English midfielder seized the opportunity, tapping in the rebound to make it 3-1, effectively extinguishing the hosts' comeback hopes.

Joao Pedro celebrates after completing his hat-trick. *Photo: Reuters*

Not content, in the 64th minute, Alejandro Garnacho had a one-on-one opportunity with the goalkeeper. Instead of shooting, the Argentine forward passed to Pedro, who slotted the ball into an empty net, completing an emotional hat-trick.

Pedro became the eighth Brazilian player to score a Premier League hat-trick, following Afonso Alves, Robinho, Roberto Firmino, Lucas Moura, Gabriel Jesus, Igor Thiago, and Matheus Cunha. Pedro has contributed to nine goals against Aston Villa (5 goals, 4 assists) – his best record against any team in the league.

The 4-1 victory propelled Chelsea to fifth place with 48 points, level with Liverpool but ahead on goal difference, and three points behind Aston Villa. In the next round, "The Blues" will return home to face Newcastle, while Aston Villa will visit Man Utd.

Hong Duy