Sports Buddy looks at the Chelsea vs Tottenham match preview, team news, head-to-head, possible lineup, and prediction in this article.
Chelsea vs Tottenham: Match preview
It’s a heated midweek clash in London as Tottenham prepare to take on their arch-rivals Chelsea on Thursday night.
Last November, these teams went head-to-head in a wild match that marked a turning point for Tottenham under manager Ange Postecoglou. Since their 4-1 defeat, Spurs haven’t quite recaptured that same spark, dealing with injuries and red cards along the way.
Despite a spirited second-half effort, Tottenham couldn’t clinch a win in Sunday’s North London Derby, putting their top-four hopes in jeopardy given their tough remaining fixtures.
Chelsea, under new boss Mauricio Pochettino, have had a mixed bag of results this season. But one thing remains consistent: their ability to come out on top against their London rivals.
After a humbling 5-0 loss to Arsenal, Chelsea showed resilience to snatch a point against Aston Villa, though VAR thwarted their chance for victory in the dying moments. Still, Chelsea are a force to be reckoned with at home and are gunning for European football next season.
Chelsea vs Tottenham: kick-off time, venue, referee
The showdown between Chelsea and Tottenham is set to kick off at Stamford Bridge in London, England, on Thursday, May 2nd.
The match starts at 7:30 PM BST, 2:30 PM ET, and 11:30 AM PT. Robert Jones will be the referee on the pitch, while Michael Salisbury will be overseeing VAR.
Chelsea vs Tottenham H2H record (Last Five Games)
- Chelsea: 1 win
- Tottenham: 3 wins
- Draws: 1
Chelsea vs Tottenham: Team news
Thiago Silva’s departure from Chelsea at the end of the season seems imminent, and his availability for Thursday’s match is uncertain after he limped off during the game at Villa Park on Saturday.
Unfortunately for Pochettino, Tottenham will be missing several key players for the upcoming clash. Reece James, Romeo Lavia, Ben Chilwell, Enzo Fernandez, Lesley Ugochukwu, Malo Gusto, Carney Chukwuemeka, and Wesley Fofana are all sidelined.
There are also doubts surrounding Raheem Sterling, Levi Colwill, Robert Sanchez, and Christopher Nkunku, but their fitness will be evaluated closer to the match.
Timo Werner’s chances of playing are slim due to a hamstring injury sustained in the North London Derby. This could prompt a change in Tottenham’s attack, possibly seeing Son Heung-min move to the left wing and Richarlison make a comeback as the starting striker.
Destin Udogie has been ruled out for the rest of the season following thigh surgery, meaning Ben Davies is expected to maintain his position at left-back.
Udogie and Werner are added to the injury list alongside Ryan Sessegnon, Fraser Forster, and Manor Solomon, leaving them unavailable for selection.
Chelsea vs Tottenham possible lineup
Below is the Chelsea vs Tottenham possible lineup as per 90mins.
Chelsea predicted lineup (4-2-3-1): Petrovic; Chalobah, Disasi, Badiashile, Cucurella; Caicedo, Gallagher; Madueke, Palmer, Mudryk; Jackson.
Tottenham predicted lineup (4-3-3): Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Davies; Bissouma, Sarr, Kulusevski; Johnson, Richarlison, Son.
Chelsea vs Tottenham prediction: Chelsea 2-1 Tottenham
Given the excitement generated by the previous match, expectations are running high for this upcoming game. Although it’s doubtful we’ll see quite the same level of excitement, both teams’ unpredictability guarantees an enjoyable watch.
Chelsea often outshine their London rivals, especially at Stamford Bridge, where they’ve had a strong showing in 2024. Tottenham have had a tough time winning at this stadium historically, so they might face another tough test on Thursday.
