Chelsea v Aston Villa preview and prediction

Stamfords Bridge will be hosting Chelsea versus Aston Villa in a moment, a game being tipped as the Capitol One Cup final preview.

Chelsea are favourites to beat Swansea over 2 legs in one semi-final, with Aston Villa hot-favourites to beat lower league Bradford City.

Chelsea will be without John Obi Mikel for todays game, who will be missing his third domestic match of his three-match ban. The Blues will also be without John Terry, Daniel Sturridge and Oriol Romeu who are all struggling with injuries.

I predict Aston Villa to keep it tight, and hold out for the first half an hour, with Chelsea eventually breaking the deadlock towards the end of the half. I predict Juan Mata to score today, given he has been scoring consistently this season, and the fact he will be playing centrally behind Torres today, with Hazard and Moses out wide. The second-half should flow alot more openly, with Chelsea scoring a few more. Chelsea to win 4-1, conceding a goal in the last 15.

Starting line-ups

Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Cahill, Cole, Azpilcueta, Luiz, Lampard, Mata, Hazard, Moses, Torres.

Bench: Turnbull, Ramires, Oscar, Ferreira, Marin, Piazon, Ake

Aston Villa: Guzan, Lowton, Baker, Clark, Lichaj, Holman, Westwood, Bannan, Herd, Weimann, Benteke.

Bench: Given, Ireland, El Ahmadi, Albrighton, Delph, Bowery, Bennett