Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernández paid homage to compatriot Lionel Messi by replicating his celebration after scoring a stunning free-kick against Aston Villa on Wednesday (February 7).
In an FA Cup fourth-round replay at Villa Park, Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea dominated proceedings. Bouncing back from successive heavy defeats in the Premier League, the visitors took control early, with Conor Gallagher putting them ahead after just 11 minutes.
Nicolas Jackson, making his return, doubled their lead 12 minutes later, setting the stage for Fernandez to seal the victory with a spectacular free-kick. Nine minutes into the second half, the 23-year-old midfielder curled in a sublime shot past Villa’s goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez.
After finding the net, Enzo Fernández paid homage to his fellow Argentine Lionel Messi by replicating his celebration, running to the corner flag and pointing to the name and number on his jersey, a moment that sparked celebrations among his teammates.
Despite Moussa Diaby pulling one back for Unai Emery’s side in stoppage time, it was not enough as Chelsea secured a fifth-round home clash with Leeds United on February 28.
The victory marked a welcome return to form for Chelsea, who had lost six of their last seven away games across all competitions. It also ended their two-game losing streak following defeats to Liverpool and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
