Alexandre Pato Makes Chelsea Debut vs. Aston Villa: Stats, Highlights, Reaction

Alexandre Pato won and scored a penalty for Chelsea on Saturday after replacing the stricken Loic Remy against Aston Villa in a 4-0 win for the Blues.

Bleacher Report's Garry Hayes documented the change, which came in the 22nd minute of the clash, showing the moment the striker came on:

Just before the interval, the Brazilian was felled in the penalty area, and with the Blues already leading thanks to a Ruben Loftus-Cheek opener, he stepped up to double his side's advantage. The goalkeeper, Brad Guzan, guessed the right way, but the strike was too pure from the Chelsea No. 11.

The forward was also involved in the third goal the visitors scored, linking up well with Oscar before Pedro Rodriguez finished. In the buildup to the fourth, his shot was saved by Guzan, with former Barcelona man Pedro capitalising on the rebound to grab his second of the day.

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Pato signed for Chelsea on loan in the January transfer window, and much to the frustration of the club’s supporters, he had to wait a long time before taking to the field. It took manager Guus Hiddink 64 days to give the Brazil international his first outing, per BBC Radio 5 Live:

Afterwards, the Chelsea manager offered an insight as to why he's had to wait before making his appearance:

Given just how poor Villa were on the day, Bleacher Report's Will Tidey wondered whether the striker had planned this delay all along:

The forward is looking to prove he can cut it in European football following a successful two-year spell at Sao Paulo on loan from Corinthians. Pato was tipped for big things during his time with AC Milan, but injuries and a loss of form saw his potential go somewhat unfulfilled.

This was an encouraging debut. As Fabrizio Romano of Sky Sport noted during the game, the striker has a habit of netting on his first appearance for a new club:

Granted, the opposition were poor and allowed the 26-year-old an easy ride, but Pato was a persistent threat, showcasing enough to suggest he could play a role for the Blues between now and the end of the season.