Chelsea 2-0 Tottenham Hotspur
These two don’t like each other very much – certainly some sections of their respective support – and that has been very much mirrored on the pitch at times also.
Never more so than in 2016, of course, in what was dubbed the ‘Battle of the Bridge’.
While we could fill many a page with the fallout and shenanigans of both sides from that Premier League encounter, we are now nearly six years on, yet the animosity still lingers.
A third meeting in January threatened to prompt the phrase ‘familiarity breeds contempt’.
After all, Chelsea had already beaten their London rivals home and away in the semi-finals of the League Cup in recent weeks.
Chelsea, their title hopes all but ended at Manchester City last time out, wanted to bounce back, Spurs did not wish for the ignominy of three defeats by the same opponents in little over as many weeks.
That was surely a matter of personal pride for boss Antonio Conte too on his return to West London, recently making it clear that he expects funds (as he always demands) to strengthen the squad he recently inherited.
Amidst that backdrop, we expected Premier League 2022 highlights – and perhaps a bit of needle.
Highlights of the game
In the run-up, Spurs had been boosted by an incredible late show at Leicester City on Wednesday night when they managed to overturn a 2-1 deficit deep in stoppage time into a 3-2 success.
Indeed, the first of Steven Bergwijn’s two goals came with the clock on 94 minutes and 52 seconds just to indicate how dramatic the victory was and to highlight the momentum with Spurs as they chase a top-four finish.
Twenty-four hours earlier, Chelsea had been mightily frustrated by Brighton in a 1-1 draw and, with Thomas Tuchel’s side stuttering of late in the league, Conte must have sensed the chance to drag his old team into a battle for a place in the top four.
The Italian, who had remained unbeaten in the league since his arrival in north London in November, made four changes, with Bergwijn rewarded for his two injury-time goals with a place in the starting XI at the expense of Lucas Moura.
He also started Matt Doherty, Eric Dier and Ryan Sessegnon with Sergio Reguilon, Emerson Royal and Oliver Skipp dropping to the bench.
Surprisingly, perhaps, neither Giovani Lo Celso nor Dele Alli was in the Spurs squad, even though Son Heung-min and Cristian Romero are still both out, likely to return after the international break.
Tuchel also shuffled the pack with Malang Sarr and Mateo Kovacic in and Marcos Alonso and N’Golo Kante named as substitutes.
The SBOTOP Premier League 2022 betting odds favoured the hosts and while the early pressure mainly emanated from them, there were few glimpses of goal for either side and nothing more than half chances in the opening half.
That changed shortly before the break when Harry Kane had the ball in the net with a smart turn and finish only to be adjudged to have pushed Thiago Silva in the build-up.
It was to prove decisive as Chelsea took control early in the second half.
Two minutes after the restart, in fact, was all it took for Callum Hudson-Odoi to wriggle away down the left and work the ball across to Hakim Ziyech.
The Moroccan international had plenty to do, but he controlled the ball before almost nonchalantly curling the ball beyond Hugo Lloris into the far top corner.
Ziyech, who scored for Ajax against Spurs in a Champions League semi-final in 2019, was in the mood and forced Lloris to palm away moments later, but it wasn’t long before the advantage was doubled.
Hudson-Odoi was brought down, a decision Spurs vehemently questioned, and from Mason Mount’s teasing free-kick, Silva rose above a static Spurs defence to head home.
A 20-yard pearler and a smart header, Chelsea had a quickfire double and victory for just the second time in their last eight Premier League matches, just the tonic before the international break.
Indeed, not until the closing stages when Kepa Arrizabalaga tipped behind a powerful Kane header, did the visitors threaten.
Oh, how they must be sick of the sight of Chelsea.
Key statistics
Tottenham have won only seven of their 60 Premier League matches against Chelsea, who are also unbeaten in their last seven league games against the Lilywhites (won six, drawn one), keeping six clean sheets along the way.
The Blues are yet to concede in five games against Tottenham under Tuchel, with the aggregate score 9-0.
They have become the first Premier League team to win four games against an opponent in a season since Manchester City against West Ham in 2013-14.
Spurs have won just one of their last 37 away games in all competitions against Chelsea, a 3-1 league victory in April 2018 when Conte was in charge of the Blues.
Spurs have failed to win any of their past 14 away league matches against sides starting the day in the top four.
What’s next?
Chelsea have a bumper month awaiting with five different games in five different competitions.
In theory, the most straightforward fixture is the next one as Plymouth Argyle visit Stamford Bridge in the fourth round of the FA Cup in just under a fortnight’s time before the west Londoners head to the United Arab Emirates for the Club World Cup.
Spurs’ next outing is also in the FA Cup as they entertain fellow Premier League side Brighton on February 5.
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