Chelsea suffer narrow defeat to Aston Villa in Abu Dhabi

Villa started with a strong XI, with Emiliano Martinez the club's only player still involved in the World Cup, while Chelsea had the likes of Marc Cucurella, Jorginho, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Armando Broja in their starting side for the mid-season contest.

Omari Hutchinson was bright for Chelsea in the early exchanges, and he tested Robin Olsen with a smart strike in the second minute after combining with Aubameyang.

It was Villa that took the lead in the seventh minute of the contest, though, with Lucas Digne and Ollie Watkins combining to set up McGinn, who could not miss from close range, and the Scot's early strike proved to be the only goal of the contest.

Hutchinson rattled the post for Chelsea in the 11th minute before Broja had a goal-bound strike blocked, but the latter was then forced off through injury in the 20th minute.

Marcus Bettinelli made a brilliant save to keep out an effort from Watkins in the 31st minute, before Olsen kept out an effort from Aubameyang down the other end of the field.

Villa had the final chance of the first half, with Arjan Raikhy hitting the post in the 44th minute of the contest.

Lewis Hall had a strike for Chelsea kept out early in the second period, before Bettinelli got down to deny Leon Bailey in the 52nd minute.

Both teams struggled to carve out opportunities as the match progressed, though, with Villa relatively comfortable in the latter stages of the contest.

Emery's side will play once more against Villarreal before returning to Premier League action against Liverpool on December 26, while Chelsea will be back in competitive action against Bournemouth on December 27.