Perhaps there is hope for Tottenham after all, beating Chelsea 2-0 on Saturday to record their first victory at Stamford Bridge since 2018. A Mike Penders own goal broke the deadlock late in the second half before Mathys Tel scored a superb solo goal to secure the points.
The result gave Roberto De Zerbi a second successive win that suggests his side finally have their Premier League campaign moving, following Monday’s victory over Coventry. Spurs had managed only one win in their previous 41 visits to Chelsea, so this was a significant result for a side that has struggled to find consistency.
Chelsea, meanwhile, suffered their first home defeat of the season under Xabi Alonso. The hosts had chances to take control but lacked a clear plan in attack and struggled to create enough against a Tottenham side that grew in confidence as the game progressed.
The absence of Joao Pedro was a major setback for Alonso. His decision to use Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers as false nines left Chelsea without a natural focal point, and the home side found it difficult to build sustained pressure.
Tottenham had their own problems in front of goal, but their midfield enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges. Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali worked well together, with James Maddison also involved before his second-half withdrawal.
Chelsea had the first clear chance when Fernandes lost possession near his own corner flag. Palmer took advantage and fired towards goal, but Antonin Kinsky made a good save to keep Tottenham level.
Spurs gradually found their rhythm and began to threaten at the other end. Mohammed Kudus failed to hit the target after collecting a cross from Tel, and Omar Marmoush wasted a better opportunity when Andrew Robertson picked him out inside the area. His low shot went straight at Penders.
Chelsea also struggled to make their possession count. Jordan Henderson tested Kinsky after the Tottenham goalkeeper gave the ball away, but the Czech shot-stopper recovered to deny him. Pedro Neto also saw an effort saved as the hosts searched for a breakthrough.
The game remained scrappy after the interval. Maddison was forced off four minutes into the second half, and Chelsea briefly looked more dangerous as Neto tested Kinsky again. Yet the home side failed to build on those moments, and Tottenham continued to look the more organised team.
Both managers turned to their benches as the contest entered its final stages. Dominic Solanke and Pedro Porro came on for Tottenham, while Chelsea introduced Estevao in search of a spark.
The Brazilian winger almost provided one when he cut inside from the right and shot into the side netting. Tempers had already begun to rise, and a confrontation involving Palmer and Fernandes added to the tension.
The breakthrough came in the 77th minute, but there was little elegance about it. Fernandes delivered a corner from the left, and Penders misjudged the flight of the ball. Under pressure from Jan Paul van Hecke, the young goalkeeper failed to clear properly and punched the ball into his own net.
It was a costly error for the 21-year-old, who was deputising for the injured Emiliano Martinez. Chelsea had worked hard to keep Tottenham out, only to fall behind through a mistake that left their players with little time to respond.
Their task became harder when Palmer was sent off shortly afterwards. Already booked for his clash with Fernandes, the England international received a second yellow card for a late challenge on Conor Gallagher.
Chelsea’s hopes of salvaging a point faded as Tottenham took advantage of their numbers. Tel then produced the decisive moment, collecting the ball inside his own half before driving forward and getting past Maxence Lacroix. The French forward finished with a low shot from around 20 yards that beat Penders and settled the contest.
