There is no better feeling just like a Premier League match-day. The pitch, the new summer arrivals slowly settling in and more and more drama. It’s Chelsea vs Tottenham in their second match of the 2017/18 season this Sunday afternoon. Both side’s will be looking to get off to a flying start in the early stages of the current campaign, but there will be obviously only be one winner.
The defending champions this season, have already found themselves in trouble after their opening day 2-3 loss to Burnley.
On the other hand, Spurs had a good first day as they beat Newcastle 2-0 on their travels, which must have given the north Londoners a huge confident boost.
Their domestic rivals will now want to make the most of this opportunity to open their account, as far as the points’ tally goes and it will surely be a high intensity battle.
The Encounter.
Both the sides looked really impressive last term and went neck to neck in the race to be the champions of England, though it was the Blues that eventually won it. It could be “revenge time” at Wembley, in yet another edition of the London derby.
Mauricio Pochettino has looked very calm and composed so far and his team have not really spent big in the transfer market. The situation of Antonio Conte has been more or less similar, though for the different reasons, though they did pay a good amount of money for Alvaro Morata.
The hosts have won 3 out of their last 5 games, with consecutive wins in their last couple of games. On the other hand, the visitors have managed just one win in the same number of fixtures, losing last four matches and a 3-0 win over Arsenal in a pre-season friendly being their only bragging point.
Out of the 74 fixtures at White Hart Lane, both teams have won 27 times, with 20 draws. Could this be the match that gives one of the two London based clubs the advantage?
Pre-Season Form.
The Blues had a pre-season campaign of mixed fortunes, as they opened the pre-season campaign with a bang as they hammered arch rivals Arsenal 3-0 in Beijing’s fully packed Bird’s Chelsea Nest Stadium. Conte’s men put Arsene Wenger’s side at the end of the sword in a very good display of football as Belgian striker Michy Batshuayi put in an impressive performance as he found the net twice. In the next game they faced German giants Bayern Munich who outclassed them by beating the Blues 3-2, Then they were beaten 2-1 by Inter Milan which was no better.
To add to their misery they were beaten by Arsenal in the Community Shield on penalties despite putting in a brilliant effort throughout the 90 minutes and the 2-3 loss to Burnley in the opening fixture of the Premier League.
Spurs have had the better start, with wins over PSG, Juventus and Newcastle United in recent weeks. This would have been a huge boost despite the couple of losses that they suffered amidst those. They do get the advantage over their rivals in this department.
Team News.
Chelsea superstar Eden Hazard will unfortunately sit out once again, as he is still recovering from an ankle surgery. Conte’s problem doesn’t end there as new summer signing Tiémoué Bakayoko will also miss out for this fixture as he is undergoing rehabilitation following a knee operation. The list goes on and it is still not certain whether Pedro will be playing in this one or not, though he should start if he is fit. Gary Cahill and Cesc Fabregas are suspended after their red cards against Burnley.
On the other hand, Spurs will be missing players like Kieran Trieper, Erik Lamela, Danny Rose and N’Koudou, which are four key players. However, the Argentine manager has enough quality among his ranks to win the game still.
Potential Chelsea Starting Lineup:
Goalkeeper: Thibaut Courtois.
Defenders: David Luiz, Rüdiger, Azpilicueta.
Midfielders: Moses, Christensen, Kanté, Alonso.
Attackers: Pedro, Morata, Willian.
Potential Tottenham Starting Lineup:
Goalkeeper: Hugo Lloris.
Defenders: Davies, Vertonghen, Alderweireld, Dier.
Midfielders: Wanyama, Dembele ; Son, Eriksen, Alli.
Attackers: Kane.
My Score Prediction :
Chelsea 1-3 Tottenham
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