Chelsea vs Aston Villa: Hard-fighting visitors force Blues to 1-1 draw

- Chelsea vs Aston Villa saw another beautiful performance from Olivier Giroud

- Frank Lampard's side failed to move into third position on the Premier League standings

- Olivier Giroud's 34th minute strike was cancelled out by Anwar El-Ghazi in the 50th

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Chelsea have failed to claim all three points at home against Aston Villa on December 28 after the visitors fought hard to claim a point, ending the encounter 1-1.

Frank Lampard's side would have moved to third position on the Premier League standings, but they failed to hold on to their lead.

Olivier Giroud opened the scoring with a spectacular finish in the 34th minute, but the visitors restored parity in the 50th through Anwar El-Ghazi.

The visitors started the game on a bright note and in the 7th minute, Edouard Mendy made a solid stop to deny Jack Grealish's whipped effort. The follow up corner was blocked by Giroud.

And in the 12th minute, Pulisic was close to getting Chelsea ahead after Grealish played a really bad pass back, allowing the American to intercept.

He bought himself a yard of space before shooting goalwards; it rattled the wrong side of the net.

Villa also came close in the 26th minute after Grealish sent in a free-kick and Hause directed a free-ish header wide after losing Azpilicueta.

The Blues however opened the scoring in the 34th minute through Olivier Giroud who doesn't need a second chance... in the next phase of play as Chilwell crossed from the left and the striker finished first time with a diving header. Chelsea 1-0 Villa.

Both teams headed into the break with Frank Lampard's side looking to coast home with all three points.

But the visitors came out blazing in the second-half and in the 49th minute, they made it 1-1 with El Ghazi arriving at the back post to finish. Christensen was injured in the build up and the game continued.

In the 66th minute, Chelsea had the ball in the net from a Azpilicueta rebounded effort but the offside flag is up.

Villa would have taken the lead minutes later following a sublime strike by McGinn as he had a pop from 25 yards.

Mendy was beaten but the ball came back off the woodwork. There were no further ado as it ended; Chelsea 1-1 Aston Villa.

Meanwhile, Legit.ng earlier reported that Atletico Madrid are reportedly planning to sign out-of-Chelsea defender, Marcos Alonso, on loan when the transfer window opens next month.

The Spaniard has been frozen out of Frank Lampard's squad with the club legend preferring both Ben Chilwell and Emerson Palmieri above him in the pecking order.

He has made just three appearances in the Premier League so far this campaign with his last game coming in the Blues 3-3 draw against West Bromwich Albion on September 26

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Source: Legit.ng