Chelsea won the reverse fixture between the sides 4-1 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in November
Chelsea beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 at Stamford Bridge to keep them in the hunt for European football – and deal a massive blow to their London rivals’ hopes of qualifying for the Champions League next season.
Trevoh Chalobah opened the scoring when the defender rose to meet a Conor Gallagher free-kick with a powerful header mid-way through the first half.
There was a lengthy video assistant referee check for a possible block by Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella on Brennan Johnson in the build-up, but the goal was given.
Spurs did not create many chances and Cristian Romero had their best opportunity when he headed wide inside the six-yard-box in the first half.
But Chelsea took control in the 71st minute when Cole Palmer’s free-kick from the edge of the area struck the bar and Nicolas Jackson headed the rebound into an empty net.
Victory sent Chelsea into eighth place, just two points behind Newcastle in seventh and a possible European spot.
Tottenham, meanwhile, are seven points behind Aston Villa with a game in hand in their battle for fourth place.
Their defeat means Liverpool have now clinched Champions League football in 2024-25.
Chelsea’s strong home form continues
Chelsea had only lost one of their 17 previous home games in all competitions and that defeat was back in February against Wolves.
They put in another good performance here and Jackson – a constant menace to the Spurs defence – had a great chance early on when he was played through but saw his shot half-saved by Guglielmo Vicario before Micky van de Ven then cleared off the line.
Van de Ven’s clearance went straight to Palmer but he could not steer the ball in from close range.
With 14 first-team players out injured and a substitute bench packed full of youngsters – the 21-year-old Cesare Casadei the oldest member – manager Mauricio Pochettino had to rely on his first XI to give him victory on his 400th game in English football.
Mykhailo Mudryk and Noni Madueke caused Tottenham plenty of problems on the counter attack but could not find the final ball to give Chelsea a third goal.
Stand-in captain Gallagher meanwhile, having set up the first goal, rewarded Chelsea supporters with a fine performance after they displayed a banner in his support before the game.
The England midfielder only has one year left on his contract and Chelsea are open to offers for him with Spurs one of the interested clubs.
Tottenham slip further behind in race for fourth
Ange Postecoglou made five changes from the side that lost the north London derby at the weekend but that did not seem to galvanise his Spurs side.
The Australian cut a frustrated figure in the first half as he tried to get his team going, with much of his frustration aimed at midfielder Yves Bissouma.
Tottenham have lost their past three Premier League games and are losing ground and hope of getting a Champions League place.
They are seven points behind Aston Villa, who would guarantee fourth place with two wins from their final three games, even if Spurs won all four of theirs.
Tottenham have also now kept just two clean sheets in their past 25 Premier League games and conceded from yet another set-piece in this match.
Player of the match
GallagherConor Gallagher
Chelsea
Squad number23Player nameGallagher
Squad number3Player nameCucurella
Squad number14Player nameChalobah
Squad number25Player nameCaicedo
Squad number15Player nameJackson
Squad number63Player nameAcheampong
Squad number11Player nameMadueke
Squad number10Player nameMudryk
Squad number42Player nameGilchrist
Squad number31Player nameCasadei
Squad number49Player nameTauriainen
Squad number5Player nameBadiashile
Squad number28Player namePetrovic
Squad number20Player namePalmer
Line-ups
Chelsea
Formation 4-2-3-1
28Petrovic
42Gilchrist14Chalobah5Badiashile3Cucurella
25Caicedo23Gallagher
11Madueke20Palmer10Mudryk
15Jackson
28Petrovic42GilchristSubstituted forAcheampongat 85’minutes14Chalobah5Badiashile3Cucurella25Caicedo23Gallagher11Madueke20Palmer10MudrykSubstituted forCasadeiat 75’minutes15JacksonSubstituted forTauriainenat 90+4’minutesSubstitutes13Bettinelli31Casadei36de Souza46Sturge49Tauriainen5 4Castledine63Acheampong67George78Dyer
Tottenham
Formation 4-2-3-1
13Vicar
23Porro17Romero37van de Ven12Emerson Royal
8Bissouma29Sarr
22Johnson21Kulusevski7Son Heung-min
9Richarlison
13Vicario23Porro17Romero37van de VenBooked at 67mins12Emerson RoyalSubstituted for Lo Celsoat 86’minutes8BissoumaSubstituted forHøjbjergat 63’minutes29SarrSubstituted forMaddisonat 63’minutes22JohnsonSubstituted forGilat 78’minutes21Kulusevski7Son Heung-min9RicharlisonSubstituted forBentancurat 63 ‘minutesSubstitutes4Skipp5Højbjerg6Dragusin10Maddison11Gil18Lo Celso30Bentancur40Austin59Moore
Live Text
Match ends, Chelsea 2, Tottenham Hotspur 0.
Second Half ends, Chelsea 2, Tottenham Hotspur 0.
Attempt missed. Bryan Gil (Tottenham Hotspur) left footed shot from a difficult angle and long range on the left is too high. Assisted by James Maddison.
Corner, Tottenham Hotspur. Granted by Moses Fallen.
Substitution, Chelsea. Jimi Tauriainen replaces Nicolas Jackson.
Attempt missed. James Maddison (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Giovani Lo Celso.
Attempt missed. Rodrigo Bentancur (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Son Heung-Min following a fast break.
Attempt blocked. Pierre-Emile Højbjerg (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
Attempt blocked. Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Giovani Lo Celso with a cross.
Corner, Tottenham Hotspur. Granted by Moses Fallen.
Attempt blocked. James Maddison (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Attempt blocked. Giovani Lo Celso (Tottenham Hotspur) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Son Heung-Min.
Corner, Tottenham Hotspur. Conceded by Conor Gallagher.
Attempt blocked. Rodrigo Bentancur (Tottenham Hotspur) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Bryan Gil with a cross.
Son Heung-Min (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Benoît Badiashile (Chelsea).
Attempt saved. Rodrigo Bentancur (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Son Heung-Min.
Corners, Chelsea. Granted by Guglielmo Vicario.
Attempt saved. Cole Palmer (Chelsea) left footed shot from long range on the right is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Foul by Rodrigo Bentancur (Tottenham Hotspur).
2024-05-02 21:16:39
#Chelsea #Tottenham #Trevoh #Chalobah #Nicolas #Jackson #hand #Chelsea #win #Spurs