Chelsea will host their fierce London rivals, Tottenham Hotspur, this Tuesday, with crucial European football qualification, Premier League survival, and local bragging rights all at stake.
After a devastating FA Cup final loss, Chelsea needs to bounce back in the league to keep their hopes for European competition alive next season. Securing two more wins should be sufficient for them to claim eighth place and a spot in the Conference League.
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The Blues are experiencing a rough patch with seven games without a victory in the Premier League (D1, L6), their worst run since a ten-match winless streak between December 1994 and February 1995 under former Spurs great Glenn Hoddle. Coincidentally, that streak ended with a 1-1 draw against Tottenham.
[BBC]
Being part of a significant narrative in the potential relegation of their north London rivals would provide an electrifying end to Chelsea’s disappointing season and help erase the memories of their Wembley loss last Saturday.
This matchup has historically favored Chelsea, whose fans nicknamed Tottenham’s old ground ‘Three Point Lane.’ They have achieved a club record of 38 Premier League victories over Tottenham, both home and away.
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Furthermore, Chelsea has not lost their final home league game of the season in 24 years (W16, D7), and with their commanding end-of-season record and head-to-head supremacy, it seems likely that the Blues will still be contending for eighth place on the final matchday.
Spurs on the brink of safety
Spurs are currently enjoying a four-match unbeaten streak (W2, D2) and only need three more points on Tuesday to ensure their place in the Premier League. A draw would also tilt the odds in their favor, given their superior goal difference in comparison to West Ham.
However, the Lilywhites have managed only one victory in their last 33 Premier League matches at Stamford Bridge, with that lone success taking place during Mauricio Pochettino’s tenure in April 2018.
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If there’s a moment for Spurs to challenge their London rivals, it might be now. This season, only title challengers Arsenal and Manchester City have accumulated more points on the road than Tottenham’s 26 this season, while Chelsea has suffered four consecutive Premier League home losses.
Penalty woes
Spurs have experienced a remarkable drought without a Premier League penalty since the last game of the previous season. It’s been nearly a year without a spot-kick, and this streak of 36 matches appears unlikely to end on Tuesday.
The last time a referee awarded Tottenham a penalty in a top-flight match at Chelsea was over 32 years ago, in February 1994, when they were granted two kicks. In typical ‘Spurs at Stamford Bridge’ style, they converted the first but missed the second, allowing Chelsea to secure a last-minute penalty and clinching a thrilling 4-3 victory.