As was his custom in FA Cup finals, Roberto Di Matteo scored after just forty-three seconds in the 1997 match between Chelsea and Middlesbrough. The Italian took a bit longer to score in the 2000 final over Aston Villa, but he still gave the Blues a clear advantage.

After 73 minutes, David James spilled a tremendous free-kick sent by Gianfranco Zola, and the ball bounced off Gareth Southgate and fell into the happy hands of Di Matteo. The future manager of Chelsea and Villa momentarily ended his love affair with the old Wembley Stadium with a close-range goal.

At the time, it was only Chelsea’s third FA Cup victory. And since then, the west Londoners have won five more.

Aston Villa 3-2 Chelsea – 12 April 2004

When Aston Villa welcomed Chelsea to Villa Park in 2004, they were winning three of their previous five matches against the Blues and were having a particularly successful run against them. The Midlands team was behind early to a tap-in from Hernan Crespo, but this win would make it four out of six.

Fortunately for Villa, Mario Melchiot was there to forcefully bump into Gareth Barry’s back. Darius Vassell then scored the next penalty kick to equalise shortly before halftime. Following the interval, Villa took the lead thanks to a fantastic low effort from Thomas Hitzlsperger, and the points were sealed by Lee Hendrie, who converted a flick-on from Peter Crouch.

Then, with a superb move and curled finish into the far corner, Crespo scored the game’s only goal, but it was merely a solace for the Blues.

Chelsea 4-4 Aston Villa – 26 December 2007

There aren’t many more thrilling eight-goal thrillers than this one. Up until first-half stoppage time, Villa’s game was going well. Shaun Maloney’s brace gave the visitors a two-goal lead, with Petr Cech’s unusual mistake accounting for the second goal.

But late in the first half, Zat Knight was sent off for preventing Michael Ballack from scoring a goal, and Andriy Shevchenko scored the next penalty past Scott Carson. Shortly after the half, Chelsea’s Ukrainian attacker hammered home a stunning equaliser to signal that the recovery was officially underway.

Shevchenko then found Alex, who finished off his teammate’s ball with style, but Martin Laursen gave Villa a late lead when he headed in Ashley Young’s free kick.

Ricardo Carvalho was sent off for Chelsea after making a two-footed lunge, so the drama wasn’t quite done. With two minutes remaining, Ballack’s well-placed free kick would put the home team ahead, but in the ninetieth minute, Ashley Cole was sent off for handling on the line. An absolutely breathless match came to an end when Gareth Barry converted the spot kick, making it 4-4.

Chelsea 8-0 Aston Villa – 23 December 2012

Chelsea played a fantastic game against a terrible Villa team, scoring a lot less even eight goals. Three minutes in, Fernando Torres gave the Blues the lead with a magnificent header, and David Luiz doubled their lead with a fantastic free kick.

After a corner, Frank Lampard scored a stunning goal from 25 yards out to make it four. Branislav Ivanovic then headed in for three. Oscar and Ramires, two Brazilians, would take the lead for the Blues with goals five and six respectively, before Eden Hazard put in a seventh with seven minutes remaining.

And then, in stoppage time, Ramires added even more salt to the gaping Villa wounds by scoring his second goal. It was an absolutely terrible show for the Villans.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa – Complete H2H record

• Games played: 163
• Chelsea wins: 68
• Draws: 35
• Aston Villa wins: 60

Chelsea vs Aston Villa – Premier League H2H record

• Games played: 57
• Chelsea wins: 29
• Draws: 13
• Aston Villa wins: 15