Villa dare to dream at fortress Chelsea

Chelsea have made a habit of breaking hearts, and Aston Villa must know they are walking into the lion's den. The Blues are unbeaten in 19 league games this season, and they will not want that record tarnished by a cup upset on their own patch.

This is a semi-final, and Villa will believe. They have lost their last three against Chelsea, all without scoring, but the cup is a different animal. The last meeting, at Villa Park in October, finished 2-0 to the champions, and the one before that was the same score. Villa will need more than hope to change that script.

The home side are missing Nacho Valera, Jairzinho, and Thomas Verlhac, but this is a squad built to cope. Villa have their own problems: Miguel Ángel Perea, Alberto Meseguer, and Pau Jiménez are all out. That might level the playing field, but Chelsea's depth is frightening.

Jassem Abdulla knows both dressing rooms. He spent two seasons at Villa from 2059 to 2061, playing 42 times and scoring once, but won nothing there. Now he wears blue and will be desperate to show his old club what they are missing. Expect him to be in the thick of it.

Chelsea's league form is relentless, but the Carabao Cup has not been kind to them in recent years. Their ten-year hold on the trophy ended after the 2050/51 season, and they have not lifted it since. That is a long drought for a club of their stature, and Dimario will want it ended.

Villa will look to frustrate, to sit deep and hit on the break. They have nothing to lose, and that makes them dangerous. But Chelsea at home, with the crowd behind them, are a different beast. The Drogba Arena has seen some famous European nights, and a semi-final under the lights will bring its own magic.

The stage is set for a classic. Villa will fight, Chelsea will attack, and the first goal could decide everything. Get your popcorn ready.