Chelsea crashed to defeat at Aston Villa but clung on to a place in the top four thanks to a fightback on the other side of the Midlands.
2020/2021 Premier League
2-1
Match Report
Bertrand Traore turned up the pressure on his former club, by scoring the opener and winning the penalty from which Anwar El Ghazi made it 2-0 in front of a jubilant Villa crowd.
Ben Chilwell pulled a goal back in a nerve-wracking finish and the Londoners ended the game with 10 men after a red card for captain Cesar Azpilicueta.
Chelsea were rescued, however, by fierce rivals Tottenham, who twice trailed at the King Power Stadium, but pulled level with an own goal by Kasper Schmeichel and two late goals from Gareth Bale broke Leicester hearts.
Thomas Tuchel, who lost an away game for the first time as Chelsea boss, was relieved to finish the season in fourth.
But there was an injury scare for Tuchel ahead of the Champions League final with goalkeeper Edouard Mendy off at half time.
Key midfielder N’Golo Kante, struggling with a hamstring problem, was absent from the team sheet at Villa Park.
Chelsea dominated the first 25 minutes without captalising. Emi Martinez, voted Villa fans’ player of the year this season, made routine saves to keep out a variety of efforts from Ben Chilwell, Mason Mount, Timo Werner and Christian Pulisic.
Mateo Kovacic and Azpilicueta created the clearest opening of this period for Mount, who missed the target, firing over on the half volley. Werner miscued another decent chance on the volley and then appealed for a penalty when the ball skidded by and struck Marvellous Nakamba on an arm.
Villa gradually found a way into the contest. Traore jinked into the penalty box and forced a save from Mendy, and then fizzed another low shot wide from distance. John McGinn also went close after winning the ball from Kovacic in midfield.
It was 4.36pm when news filtered into Villa Park that Sadio Mane had scored to give Liverpool the lead against Crystal Palace. With Leicester ahead agaisnt Spurs, Chelsea knew they were outside the top four as it stood.
Then things got worse for Tuchel when Thiago Silva’s heavy touch conceded a corner and Villa found the net from a well-worked routine.
Traore outfoxed Chelsea with a late run from the deep and Matt Targett picked him out with a low corner, pulled towards the edge of the box. Traore did not connect sweetly but the ball skipped up from the turf and beat Mendy in the top corner.
Chelsea’s goalkeeper collided with the frame of the goal as he tried to make the save and required treatment. Mendy continued until half-time but did not return after the interval. He was replaced by Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Spurs levelled at Leicester and Chelsea almost found an equaliser early in the second half. Werner found Pulisic who scuffed at his shot but the ball hit Targett and looked for a split second as if it might spin into the goal with Martinez stranded.
Villa Park held its breath and the ball bounced wide for a corner. The home side responded. Grealish lashed a shot into the side-netting, before stretching ahead from the penalty spot after a foul by Jorginho on Traore.
Chelsea players disputed the decision but VAR Jarred Gillet back referee Stuart Attwell and El Ghazi beat Kepa from the spot.
Tuchel sent on Hakim Ziyech and Kai Havertz, and switched to a back four, aware his team were required to score three goals unless there was help from elsewhere.
All the time they were extremely vulnerable to Villa’s pace on the counter-attack.
Werner found the net but a flag went up and it was correctly ruled out for offside against Azpilicueta in the build up.
Twenty minutes remained when Chilwell pulled a goal back, converting at the back post from a low cross by Pulisic. Chelsea’s penalty appeals were rejected when the ball struck Tyrone Mings.
Azpilicueta was dismissed when his arm caught Jack Grealish in the face as the pair tussled for the ball.
It seemed harsh on the Chelsea skipper but the most crucial developments came elsewhere with the goal flashes from Leicester.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
14' Chilwell's shot denied
18' Mount's long shot stopped
20' Aston Villa handball overlooked by ref
24' Mount misses a golden chance
42' GOAL! Aston Villa 1-0 Chelsea (Traore)
44' Yellow Card! Jorginho booked
45' Yellow Card! Werner booked
51' Penalty Goal! Aston Villa 2-0 Chelsea (El Ghazi)
59' Disallowed! Werner scores but the goal is offside
69' GOAL! Aston Villa 2-1 Chelsea (Chilwell)
76' Mings handball overlooked by ref
85' Chilwell's shot too wide
88' Red Card! Azpilicueta sent off
Line-ups
Aston Villa XI: E. Martinez, Traore, Grealish, McGinn, Hause, Mings, Nakamba, Targett, El Ghazi, O. Watkins, Ngoyo
Subs: Heaton, El Mohamady, Taylor, Wesley, Davis, Douglas Luiz, J. Ramsey, J. Philogene-Bidace, C. Chukwuemeka
Chelsea XI: Thiago Silva, Azpilicueta, Kovacic, Jorginho, Rudiger, E. Mendy, Werner, Mount, Chilwell, Pulisic, Reece James
Subs: Giroud, Alonso, Zouma, Kepa, Christensen, Ziyech, Havertz, Hudson-Odoi, Gilmour