Aston Villa was on the brink of securing a Champions League spot at half-time, but a frenzied match against Chelsea concluded with the team grateful for a single point to maintain their top-four ambitions. A VAR decision to negate Axel Disasi’s last-minute goal saved Villa from a devastating loss, having led by two goals earlier.

Chelsea’s Mauricio Pochettino praised his squad’s comeback after a recent defeat to Arsenal, yet was frustrated by the disallowed winning goal. The decision sparked outrage among Chelsea players, leading to bookings for Benoit Badiashile and Noni Madueke by referee Craig Pawson post-match.

Despite the disappointment of not securing a win that would have put them nine points clear of Tottenham in fifth place, Villa’s draw guaranteed them a top-five finish for the first time since the 1996-97 season and an unprecedented Premier League finish above Manchester United.

Unai Emery’s Villa showed their tendency to falter with a two-goal lead, yet they remain seven points ahead of Tottenham, who have three games in hand, including an upcoming match against Arsenal.

Villa’s potential victory was initially set up by an own goal from Marc Cucurella and a goal from Morgan Rogers. However, Chelsea controlled the game, rallying in the second half with goals from Madueke and Conor Gallagher. Cole Palmer missed a crucial chance in stoppage time, and Disasi’s disallowed goal followed.

The match’s first half mirrored Chelsea’s season, with Pochettino’s team dominating possession but displaying defensive lapses and missed opportunities. After a heavy loss to Arsenal, Chelsea conceded early to Villa’s first attack, with Cucurella scoring an own goal. Despite this, Chelsea seemed to equalize through Nicolas Jackson, but VAR ruled it offside.

Villa extended their lead with Rogers’ goal, contrasting with Mykhailo Mudryk’s lackluster performance for Chelsea. Injuries plagued both teams, with Villa’s Youri Tielemans and goalkeeper Emi Martinez being substituted due to injuries.