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Chelsea climbed into the Premier League’s top five after João Pedro produced a superb hat-trick in a commanding 4-1 victory over Aston Villa at Villa Park.
The hosts made a perfect start, taking the lead inside two minutes when Douglas Luiz flicked Leon Bailey’s low cross beyond Filip Jorgensen.
The Blues gradually settled and began to threaten, with Emiliano Martínez forced into saves from João Pedro and Cole Palmer as the visitors pushed forward.
Their pressure paid off in the 35th minute when Malo Gusto slipped a pass into Pedro, who finished calmly to level the score.
Villa believed they had restored their lead soon after when Ollie Watkins rounded Jorgensen and scored, but VAR ruled the effort out for offside.
Chelsea then completed the turnaround in first-half stoppage time as Enzo Fernández played a clever pass through to Pedro, who lifted his finish over Martínez.
The visitors strengthened their grip on the match 10 minutes after the restart when Palmer struck from the edge of the area following a flowing move.
Pedro completed his hat-trick nine minutes later, finishing confidently after being played through by Alejandro Garnacho.
The result lifts Liam Rosenior's side into fifth place and within three points of Villa as their push for Champions League qualification gathers momentum.
Incidents: The story of the match
1':
The match begins
Aston Villa takes the lead with a score of 1-0 against Chelsea. Douglas Luiz fires a right-footed shot from the middle of the box, sending the ball straight into the center of the net. The assist comes from Leon Bailey.
2':
GOAL Aston Villa: Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa) scores!
Douglas Luiz scores goal number 1 in the competition (14 matches)
It's now Aston Villa 1, Chelsea 1. João Pedro scores for Chelsea with a right-footed shot from close range, finding the center of the net. The assist comes from Malo Gusto.
35':
GOAL Chelsea: João Pedro (Chelsea) scores!
João Pedro scores goal number 12 in the competition (29 matches)
45 +3':
Opportunity wasted. Jorrel Hato of Chelsea attempted a right-footed shot from the left side of the penalty area.
Aston Villa 1, Chelsea 2. João Pedro scores for Chelsea with a left-footed shot from the center of the box into the bottom right corner. The assist came from Enzo Fernández, who delivered a perfectly timed through ball.
45 +6':
GOAL Chelsea: João Pedro (Chelsea) scores!
João Pedro scores goal number 13 in the competition (29 matches)
49':
Missed opportunity. Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa takes a right-footed shot from outside the penalty area following a free kick, but it sails over the goal.
Aston Villa 1, Chelsea 3. Cole Palmer from Chelsea scores with a left-footed shot from the middle of the box, finding the center of the net after a quick counterattack.
55':
GOAL Chelsea: Cole Palmer (Chelsea) scores!
Cole Palmer scores goal number 9 in the competition (18 matches) Cole Palmer scores goal number 54 for his team (119 matches)
Aston Villa 1, Chelsea 4. João Pedro scores for Chelsea with a right-footed shot from the middle of the penalty area.
64':
GOAL Chelsea: João Pedro (Chelsea) scores!
João Pedro scores goal number 14 in the competition (29 matches)
71':
Missed opportunity. João Pedro from Chelsea attempted a right-footed shot from the middle of the penalty area.
80':
Missed opportunity! Alysson Edward from Aston Villa took a right-footed shot from the right side of the penalty area, but it went off target.
998':
The referee whistles for the end of the match