It wasn’t to be for Ange Postecoglou and the Spurs in the fourth London derby with Chelsea: the Blues won 1-0, narrowly but deservedly, and climbed into the top four.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca made four changes from the side that lost 1-0 at Arsenal before the international break: Gusto, Chalobah, Palmer and Jackson (first Premier League game since the start of February) started instead of Badiashile, James and Nkunku (all on the bench) and Wesley Fofana (injured and not in the squad).
Spurs coach Ange Postecoglou was also able to bring back first-choice players after the 0-2 defeat at Fulham – and even made five changes. Instead of Davies, Gray, Bissouma, Johnson and Tel (all on the bench), van de Ven, Bergvall, Maddison, Odobert and Son started.
Chelsea with the advantage, Vicaro with a brilliant save
The first leg in December, which Chelsea won 4-3 away from home, was a spectacular game. And so it started at Stamford Bridge after not even 60 seconds. Chalobah sent Jackson a long ball, who appeared in the box. Then it became curious: because both keeper Vicario and van de Ven shot with their clearance attempts, each hitting the Senegalese striker. Ultimately, the ball even rebounded off the former Wolfsburg defender and hit the right post, but from there it went back instead of crossing the goal line as an own goal.
However, anyone who – under the watchful eye of England national coach Thomas Tuchel – had expected a flurry of chances or even a goal in the aftermath was a little disappointed. Although Chelsea had more of the game and occasionally came to a conclusion, but the Blues also only occasionally radiated danger.
Gusto shot into the side netting (7th), Udogie cleared just in front of the goal line after Palmer’s work against Fernandez (19th). Shortly before half-time, Vicario prevented the deficit with a brilliant save against Sancho (44th). Tottenham rarely came close to the Blues goal in the first half and had no big chances.
Fernandez heads one – VAR comes into focus
After the restart, it only took a few minutes for Chelsea to convert their superiority into a goal. After a butter-soft cross from Palmer, Fernandez headed in the 1-0 (50th minute). A few minutes later, the Blues celebrated again when Caicedo headed the ball into the goal after a free-kick and a short volley (56′). But after a long VAR check, the goal was revised because of an offside position in the making (60′).
Due to the break in play, the Blues lost their rhythm a little, and suddenly Tottenham became more offensive – and in the 70th minute they celebrated the supposed equalizer by Sarr, in which keeper Sanchez had looked bad. But again the goal was taken back (73rd minute). Because Sarr had violently fouled Caicedo in the build-up – and was thus retrospectively shown the yellow card.
Sanchez saves against Son
In the final phase – including twelve minutes of stoppage time after the long VAR and video checks – only Son came close to equalizing. Sanchez made a cat-like save against the South Korean (90th). And so it remained a narrow victory for Chelsea.
Both teams are back in action on Sunday: While the Blues are guests at Brentford FC from 3 p.m., the Spurs are hosting the bottom-placed Southampton at the same time, before Tottenham then host Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League quarter-final first leg on Thursday next week (9 p.m.).
