Chelsea 2-0 Tottenham – Premier League: Bitter rivals battle at Bridge

If Spurs fans didn’t like Mauricio Pochettino for joining Chelsea, they’ll probably dislike him even more now.

Pochettino has just become the first manager to complete a Premier League double over Tottenham having previously managed them.

It must feel pretty rough to see that statistic if you are sitting there with a Tottenham shirt on.

It’s not been an easy ride for Poch at Chelsea, but tonight’s win will definitely earn him some brownie points.

A big night for the safety of his job.

Oh, you’ve got to feel for Douglas Luiz there…

He gave away a penalty at one end and he has just missed one at the right end.

In truth, his run-up made everybody in the office think he was going to miss, and they were right.

After taking an age as he danced up to the ball, he hits the post and it goes wide.

It’s been a terrible night for Aston Villa.

The real magic of this goal is the free-kick.

As Cole Palmer hit the set-piece I thought it was about to nestle into the top corner. It didn’t, but blooming hell, it smashed the post with some force.

Luckily for Nicolas Jackson, it fell into his path, but I’m telling you, it was not an easy chance.

He made it look like it was though, sublime header. Watch, and enjoy.

I wouldn’t like to be in that Tottenham dressing room right now.

I imagine Ange Postecoglou is ripping his side apart for that performance, they were dreadful this evening.

It sums up their last few weeks, they have now lost their last three league games. They have Liverpool next…

It seems this run of form has all but ended their hopes of Champions League football next season. It’s hard to see them beating both Liverpool and Man City.

Even then, they are seven points behind Aston Villa with only one game in hand.

It’s in Villa’s hands.

Jamie Redknapp, former Spurs midfielder, on Sky Sports:

Incredible. A massive, massive effort, considering they were decimated by injuries. I thought they were absolutely fabulous today, they wanted it more than Tottenham – they got after it they won individual battles.

Obviously, set-pieces were a massive point in the game. Players that we weren’t sure if they were good enough for this Chelsea side are showing their potential. The likes of Moises Caicedo I thought he was brilliant. Cucurella, left-back, I thought he was excellent. A really, really exceptional team performance.

Chelsea just love playing Tottenham, don’t they?

With that win, they have done the double over their bitter rivals for the third time in five seasons.

It was fully deserved too, they barely gave Tottenham a kick all evening. That was them at their very best.

If Chelsea could play like that every week, I wonder where they would be?

I did not see this coming. Santiago Hezze has restored Olympiacos’ two-goal lead, via a bit of luck, I must say.

he decides to have a pop from just outside the box and it takes a monster deflection off of Ezri Konsa and flies past Robin Olsen.

Villa are right back where they started…

A gigantic cheer comes from the Stamford Bridge crowd as the whistle is blown.

Chelsea deservedly take home the three points thanks to headers from Trevoh Chalobah and Nicolas Jackson.

That was the Blues at their best under Mauricio Pochettino, they were all over Spurs, especially in the first half. they even managed to keep a clean sheet which is very rare for them.

Tottenham look gutted, could that be their Champions League dream over? I think it could.

They showed a little bit of fight in the second half, but in truth, they were extremely poor tonight.

Their nightmare record at Stamford Bridge rolls on.

Guess what? Spurs have blazed another chance miles over.

This time substitute Bryan Gil is the culprit and it isn’t pretty, I can tell you that.

He tries an audacious effort and well, you know the rest.

Lewis Steele, Mail Sport, at Villa Park:

A bit of aggro in the press box at Villa Park as a few Greek journalists stand up to celebrate Olympiacos’s goal – not for the first time this evening – and Villa fans behind start lobbing things towards them.

It just won’t go in for Tottenham.

To be fair, their chances haven’t exactly been clear. Both Rodrigo Bentancur and James Maddison have a go from miles out.

Both attempts go quite away over the bar and bring cheers from the home end.

Not their day.

Well, that didn’t last long…

Douglas Luiz handles the ball and Olympiacos are given the opportunity to retake the lead from the spot.

Ayoub El Kaabi steps up and makes no mistake, sending Robin Olsen the wrong way. He has his hat-trick and there is a beaming smile on his face.

Aston Villa are going to have to come from behind again.

The Tottenham fans have seen enough, they are heading for the exits.

It’s been a tough watch for them, their side just hasn’t been at the races today.

They must hate coming to Stamford Bridge…

Aston Villa are level!

Villa Park goes bananas as Moussa Diaby links up with Leon Bailey and then squeezes the ball home from a right angle.

He races away in celebration and Villa are now back on terms!

What a moment this is for 17-year-old Josh Acheampong!

Alfie Gilchrist’s race is run, what a shift he has put in, and it opens up the chance for young Acheampong to make his debut.

Tottenham make a change too, Emerson Royal is coming off for Giovani Lo Celso.

It’s just not been Hueng-Min Son’s day.

He just hasn’t had any joy on the left-hand side, he had just been shoved off the ball by Noni Madueke.

Madueke then tries to get the crowd going. I’m not sure there is much need for that, they are having a very good time as it is.

The teams are now back on the pitch and we are back underway.

Can Aston Villa turn this match back in their favour? We will find out over the next 45 minutes.

There is currently a medical emergency ongoing at Villa Park, so the teams are yet to get back out onto the pitch.

We will keep you updated when they do so.

Tottenham nearly hit straight back!

The visitors race forward straight from kick-off and the ball is sept over to Heung-Min Son, but he can only slide his effort into the side-netting.

That would have been the perfect response.

Nicolas Jackson scores against Spurs again!

First off, what a free-kick from Cole Palmer. He is the reason Nicolas Jackson even has the chance to score.

Palmer is so unlucky not to score as he crashes a stunning set-piece off the bar, but luckily for Chelsea, Jackson is there to head the rebound home.

It looked like Spurs’ troubles at Stamford Bridge are set to continue.

I thought that was the moment!

Brennan Johnson fires a low ball across the box and it just needs to be tapped home, but Emerson Royal can’t reach it as he slides in.

The flag does go up though, so it wouldn’t have counted anyway. But still, very close.

Mickey Van de Ven has just had a stinking few seconds.

The ball comes out to him on the edge of the box from a corner and he tries to smash home a volley, but he is closed down by Nicolas Jackson.

Jackson then races away on the counter-attack and van de Ven takes him out. Obviously, he gets a yellow card.

Here we go then, Tottenham are making a triple change.

Ange Postecoglou has decided to revamp his whole midfield as James Maddison, Rodrigo Bentancur, and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg come into the fray.

Can they make an impact?

Why didn’t Pape Sarr pass to Hueng-Min Son?

Tottenham fly forward and have a four-on-two. Sarr is the driving force but decides to give the ball to Brennan Johnson on the right-hand side.

If he had fed Son on the left, I’m sure he would have been in. In the end, the attack fizzles out.

Poor decision-making there.

Phoar, what a half of football that was.

Just as Aston Villa have the momentum, the referee blows his whistle to signal half-time.

It was looking bleak for Aston Villa after Ayoub El Kaabi’s brace sent the visitors into a two-goal lead.

However, Ollie Watkins’ goal just before the break has completely changed the complexion of this match.

A huge 45 minutes coming up.

This is the best I have seen Chelsea defend in a long time.

The Blues are not known for having a strong backline, but they are putting their bodies on the line tonight.

Spurs just can’t find a way through…

Right before half-time!

Ollie Watkins has done it again, just when Aston Villa needed him. Moussa Diaby slides him through and he drills it into the bottom left-hand corner.

The perfect time to pull a goal back, Villa are back in this!

Is that really you, Cole Palmer?

Chelsea forage forward on the counter-attack and Noni Madueke plays it across to Cole Palmer in acres of space.

You expect him to at the very least test Vicario, but he bends his effort miles over the bar.

Not the Palmer we have come accustomed to.

I’ve already heard Son Hueng-Min’s name more this half than I did in the last.

He has the ball on the left-hand side and is chopped down by Alfie Gilchrist, and now Spurs have a free-kick in a good position.

Pedro Porro fizzes the set-piece in but it’s cleared by goalscorer Trevoh Chalobah.

Ange Postecoglou must have given his Spurs side one hell of a talking-to at half-time.

In just the first few minutes they already look like a different team, they want to fight for the shirt now.

Much better from them.

Surprisingly, Spurs have not made any changes…

I thought we would have seen a few substitutes, but Ange Postecoglou sticks to his guns.

Anyway, we are back underway at Stamford Bridge.

Kieran Gill, Mail Sport, at Stamford Bridge:

Unlike other stadiums, one of the positives of Stamford Bridge is the proximity of the press box to the technical area. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Ange Postecoglou as angry as this. He was throwing tantrums all through that first half. Rightly so, too, because they have been abysmal.

Karen Carney, former Chelsea midfielder, speaking on Sky Sports:

Angry Ange! Honestly, I’ve never seen him so angry and animated. They kept getting into midfield and giving it away and really it’s about Jonson and Son, they missed the ball and they lose possession and give away this free-kick that leads to the goal.

It goes from bad to worse for Aston Villa…

It’s Ayoub El Kaabi at the double, he gets in behind the Villa backline again and slots it under Robin Olsen.

Olympiacos are in dreamland while Villa have a lot of work to do.

Conor Gallagher is having some season for Chelsea.

The Blues skipper had a banner in his honour displayed before the match, and he rewarded his side with a brilliant assist.

I did not expect to see him provide more assists than some of the names on this list.

I could watch this header on repeat.

The way it loops over Guglielmo Vicario is just so satisfying, the way he manages to stretch his neck muscles to head the ball was brilliant.

Chelsea fans, if you haven’t seen it, now is your chance. You will certainly enjoy it.

Just look how much it meant to Trevoh Chalobah too.

There goes the whistle!

That was a topsy-turvy half of football, and it’s Chelsea who deservedly lead at the break.

The hosts have dominated the large majority of the match and Trevoh Chalobah gave them what they deserved after 24 minutes with a fabulous header.

However, despite being atrocious for 35 minutes or so, Tottenham did come to life a little as the half came to a close.

It’s certainly food for thought for the Blues.

This wasn’t in the script…

Ayoub El Kaabi is sent through and smashes the ball past Robin Olsen with aplomb, but his celebrations are cut short when the offside goes up.

However, VAR checks the goal for some time and it’s given. He was in fact onside.

Disastrous for Aston Villa!

Oh, that is a brilliant block by Trevoh Chalobah!

The defender puts his body on the line to prevent Pape Sarr from bringing Spurs level.

He celebrates like he has just scored the Champions League final winner…

There are groans from the crowd as the fourth official shares that there will be four minutes of stoppage time.

That tells you all you need to know, Tottenham are finally getting some momentum.

Tottenham have finally livened up.

Since the Cristian Romero miss, the away side have looked miles more confident and you can feel the nerves inside Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea have thrown away many leads this season…

Leon Bailey sends Villa Park into a frenzy, but the joy is short-lived…

The Jamaican forward heads home at the far post, but the goal has been ruled out due to a shirt pull from Clement Llenglet.

Villa Park can’t believe it, but it stays all square.

Oh, Cristian Romero, how have you not scored?

Romero had so many opportunities in the North London Derby and he has just had a massive one here.

A free-kick is sent over to the back post, it lands straight on his head less than six yards out, but he somehow misses the target.

I’m not sure how he hasn’t scored there…

Ange Postecoglou is going absolutely bonkers on the touchline.

The Australian is not a happy bunny, I don’t think he will be calling any of his players ‘mate’ at half-time.

It’s completely warranted, Tottenham have been dreadful so far.

Chelsea are really enjoying themselves right now!

Cole Palmer is dominating the Spurs defence and he plays in Mykhailo Mudryk on the left. Mudryk cuts inside and fires narrowly wide of the post.

It was honestly so close, I was expecting it to hit the back of the net.

Right then, we are underway at Villa Park!

The stadium is alive and kicking, they know how much this match means.

Can Aston Villa get the job done in the first leg?

Kieran Gill, Mail Sport, at Stamford Bridge:

Personally, I’m glad that goal stood. It would have been a farce if VAR disallowed it because Marc Cucurella was blocking Brennan Johnson before Trevoh Chalobah headed home. Those incidents happen 10 times a game!

Stamford Bridge was moaning and groaning through that VAR process but at the end of it, there was a deafening roar.

The chants are in full flow now as Marc Cucurella’s supposed block was not deemed a foul.

Chelsea are in full flow too, Mykhailo Mudryk bursts past Pedro Porro again, but his cross is collected by Guglielmo Vicario.

Spurs are all over the place!

That is a stunning header!

It has been coming, and now Chelsea lead through Trevoh Chalobah and my word, it’s some header.

Spurs once again struggle from a set-piece, and Conor Gallagher’s free-kick lands straight onto Chalobah’s noggin and he loops his header over Vicario.

After a stupidly long VAR check, the goal is given.

Noni Madueke has taken some confidence from the Aston Villa match, he is looking very lively on the left-hand side.

He jinks his way in from the left and releases a smashing shot, but it flies just over the bar.

Perfect timing Kieran!

Mykhailo Mudryk has Pedro Porro on toats and he nearly squeezes his way through the whole defence but he can’t get a shot off.

This is the best I have seen him play in a long time!

Kieran Gill, Mail Sport, at Stamford Bridge:

Mykhailo Mudryk can be a slippery so-and-so down the left wing. He’s already had the beating of Pedro Porro more than once here. When he’s playing confidently like this, he’s a joy to watch.

Moises Caicedo is in some pain and you can see why.

Dejan Kulusevski accidentally leaves his studs on his Achilles, which will be extremely sore. I squirmed just watching it.

While he is getting treated, the Chelsea crowd chant Thiago Silva’s name which results in a wave from the Brazilian.

This comes after he announced this week that he would be leaving the club at the end of the season.

Alfie Gilchrist sees his name in lights, this is his moment… and he blazes the ball over.

It was a tough chance to be fair to the youngster. Marc Cucurella pulls a low cross and it evades everyone and seems to take an age to get to Gilchrist.

It does eventually, and you know the rest.

Guglielmo Vicario is always so nervous when a corner comes in.

Chelsea swing a corner in and Vicario shakily punches the ball clear and collides with Richarlison in the process.

Chelsea will know he struggles from set pieces, he has done all season, not just in the North London Derby.

Emerson Royal is screaming for a penalty.

The Spurs full-back is in a battle with Noni Madueke in the Chelsea area and he goes down quite theatrically.

The penalty is not given and I think it’s mainly because of how weirdly Emerson went down, in truth.

Chelsea will be relieved nothing is given…

Tottenham have their first attack and it falls flat on its face.

Chelsea give Brennan Johnson so much room that you expect him to drive at them, but he floats in a cross that goes out of play.

I’ve seen better attacks from the Welshman…

Mickey Van de Ven has just saved Guglielmo Vicario’s bacon!

Mykhailo Mudryk sends Nicolas Jackson through and Vicario loses is balance as he comes close to Jackson down.

Jackson rolls the ball under him and it’s destined for the net, but Van de Ven races back to clear it as it’s about to cross the line.

It only went as far as Cole Palmer, but he couldn’t convert.

Tottenham are enjoying the lion’s share of possession in the early moments of this game, but they are coming under a lot of pressure.

Chelsea look really hungry tonight, and their press has just forced Vicario and Emerson to muck up. Nothing comes from it though.

Stamford Bridge is still very loud…

It is so loud at Stamford Bridge, the Chelsea fans are certainly ready for this derby.

Mauricio Pochettino and Ange Postecoglou embrace and we are ready to get this show on the road.

Chelsea get the ball rolling to an almighty roar!

Stamford Bridge is very vibrant tonight.

This rivalry brings drama, which in turn brings an incredible atmosphere. It seems the Chelsea fans are bringing it tonight.

As the teams come out, the Blues fans have changed the words of their usual tune ‘The Liquidator’ to let the Tottenham side know how they feel about them.

This is going to be intense.

Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham boss, speaking to Sky Sports:

Yeah, look I think he’s (James Maddison) like a lot of lads throughout the season, but irrespective of that it’s about freshening up the team tonight and we’ve got some guys who didn’t play at the weekend, Pap Sarr and Bissouma who will help us in the midfield. Madders doesn’t start – that doesn’t mean he can’t have an impact in the game.

Wow, this statistic from Mail Sport’s Kieran Gill is incredible.

Chelsea have been ravaged by injury problems this season, they currently have 14 players out.

While their starting 11 is still rather strong, their bench is well, less so…

Matt Barlow, Mail Sport, at Stamford Bridge:

Emerson Royal in at left-back and Maddison dropped for the first time are the talking points from team selection.

Also, Mikey Moore, a very exciting teenage talent on the bench for the first time. Still only 16.

I have just found myself bobbing along to the music at Stamford Bridge.

Whoever is in control of the playlist inside the ground has struck the right tone, it is groovy, and hopefully, the football follows suit.

Both sides are now out making their final preparations, we have just 20 minutes until the ball is rolling.

I’m not going to go back to enjoying the music…

Tom Collomosse, Mail Sport, at Villa Park:

No Pau Torres in the starting XI for Aston Villa which, unless he’s carrying a knock, is a surprise – he’s been one of their key players this season. The rest of the team is as we expected, with Diaby expected to partner Watkins in attack and Bailey and Rogers wide.

Here is Aston Villa’s starting 11 for arguably their biggest match in 42 years…

Unai Emery has made three changes from the side that drew 2-2 with Chelsea on Saturday night.

Robin Olsen deputies in goal for the injured Emi Martinez while Clement Llenglet and Moussa Diaby also come in.

The last time Chelse faced Spurs, Nicolas Jackson announced himself to the Premier League.

I think it’s fair to say that Jackson has not had the smoothest of rides so far in the division, far from it.

However, one performance he can look back fondly on was we he bagged three goals away at Tottenham in a 4-1 win.

It may not have been the most dazzling hat-trick of all time, but all that matters id putting the ball in the back of the net.

Chelsea could do with him doing it again tonight.

Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham boss, speaking on Wednesday:

I think anyone who doesn’t think that Mauricio’s five and a half years here were successful, doesn’t really appreciate football for what it is because, you know, to get to the Champions League final, to, you know, come runners-up in the toughest league in the world.

There’s no silverware but in my mind, particularly the way he developed that group, I think he was a success. This is the business we’re in and we get measured by – most of us get measured by other things so we’ve got to accept that.

Mauricio Pochettino certainly knows this rivalry well, just from the other side.

The Argentine gave Spurs fans some of their best memories in recent history and he was adored during his time at the club.

Pochettino had Tottenham challenging for titles again, led them to a Champions League final, and was the catalyst for Harry Kane’s success.

So, when it was announced last summer that he would be taking the reigns at rivals Chelsea, it’s fair to say Spurs fans were not the happiest.

As you have just read, Pochettino still holds strong feelings towards Tottenham, but tonight he will need to let them go.

It’s going to be another battle at the Bridge, but this time he is in the blue corner.

Kieran Gill, Mail Sport, at Stamford Bridge:

Big game for Alfie Gilchrist at right back, along with Benoit Badiashile alongside Trevoh Chalobah. Badiashile grew into the game at Aston Villa – he had a great second half – and he’ll need to show some dominance here.

Before kick-off, there should be a big display for Conor Gallagher, as Chelsea fans look to send a message to the hierarchy ahead of an intriguing summer in which he could be sold… possibly to Tottenham.

I bet Cole Palmer is happy to be back at Stamford Bridge.

The attacking midfielder has been on fire recently for the Blues, especially at home, he has netted in each of his previous seven league appearances at the Bridge.

Not to mention, he is also the leading Premier League goalscorer in 2024, netting 12 goals since the turn of the year, with all of them coming at home.

Will he add to his tally tonight?

Mauricio Pochettino, Chelsea boss, speaking on Wednesday:

It is always emotional (facing Tottenham) because we are going to meet people we worked with for a long period. Yes, I cannot hide my emotion for the club and I think it is going to be emotional.

Wow, I wasn’t expecting to see James Maddison on the bench.

Ange Postecoglou has not held his punches, he makes five changes from the team that lost the North London Derby.

Emerson Royal, Yves Bissouma, Pape Sarr, Brennan Johnson, and Richarlison all come in.

The big news is that Maddison has been dropped…

Just the one change for Chelsea then.

It’s not one they wanted to make, but they have had to, as Thiago Silva is ruled out with injury.

Young Adam Gilchrist returns to the starting 11 to make his first home Premier League start.

How often do you see rival managers with this kind of relationship?

I’m sure all friendliness will be kicked out the door very soon when the teams make their way onto the pitch.

Pochettino didn’t look like he wanted to let him go!

Yes, you read that right, EIGHT years…

On 2 May 2016, the Battle of the Bridge was born. It’s a Premier League classic, a match that is always looked back on when these two meet.

I remember exactly where I watched this match. I was preparing for my GCSE exams and decided to take a break from studying to watch it with my friends. Boy, was that a good choice.

The match had everything, from terrible tackles that led to fights, 12 bookings, four goals, and a last-minute equaliser from Eden Hazard that left Spurs’ title hopes in tatters.

It was a spectacle that will be remembered as the day that Chelsea helped Leicester City secure a magical Premier League title, while also stepping the rivalry between the two clubs up a notch.

If we get drama even close to what we saw that fateful night, you better strap yourselves in.

By the way, I’m sorry if I made any of you feel old with this post…

When these two meet there are always fireworks.

There has only been one stalemate in the last 22 meetings between these two sides in all competitions. It almost always guarantees goals.

Do you want to know what else it brings to the table? Handbags.

This match seems to have a knack for getting feisty. There was the ‘Battle of the Bridge’ and then also last season’s handshake drama between Thomas Tuchel and Antonio Conte.

The passion always bleeds through in this one and it comes in different ways season upon season.

I wonder what they have in store for us this evening.

Stamford Bridge is very rarely a happy hunting ground for Tottenham.

Spurs have only a single win in their last 38 matches away at Chelsea, which came back in 2018 when the now-Chelsea boss, Mauricio Pochettino, was in charge.

Having spoken to various Tottenham fans, it’s clear that they don’t go into this fixture with much hope, they have been let down too many times.

However, I may say this a lot, but statistics are there to be broken. Just look at Everton last week, they won their first Merseyside Derby at Goodison Park in 14 years when nobody gave them a chance.

If there was ever a good season to come up trumps away at Chelsea, this is one of them. The Blues are a far cry from their super teams of the past.

Will tonight be one for the history books?

Chelsea and Tottenham are not the only Premier League side in action tonight.

Aston Villa have waited 42 years for a big night in Europe such as tonight, and it’s finally here. They face Olympiacos this evening at Villa Park for the first leg of their Europa Conference League semi-final.

The Villans are now surely favourites to bring home the trophy, but it will be no easy task. All I do know is that Villa Park will be rocking tonight.

We will be sure to bring you all the big updates from the match in the West Midlands, I have a feeling there will be a lot of goals to let you all know about.

Tonight could be a defining night in both Chelsea and Tottenham’s seasons.

We have now entered the final month of the Premier League campaign and both sides are still in the hunt for Europe.

Tottenham currently sit in fourth place, seven points behind Aston Villa, but with two games in hand – the first of which they play tonight.

Last night it was confirmed that Germany have secured second place in UEFA’s coefficient table for this season, only the top four places in the Premier League will qualify for Champions League football next season.

Tottenham can’t afford to lose tonight if they want to be in European club football’s premier competition, next year.

Meanwhile, Chelsea still have faint hopes of qualifying for the Europa Conference League next season and a win tonight would certainly keep them in the hunt.

If they earn three points tonight they will move up to eighth position, just two points behind Newcastle in the final European spot with four games to lose.

There is a lot that both teams can lose tonight, it’s going to be tasty.

I think it’s time for another derby!

It feels like we have been having them every other day lately, especially in London, but there are not many in the capital bigger than Chelsea vs Tottenham.

After the North London Derby, this has to be the second biggest London derby, Chelsea and Spurs don’t like each other. The rivalry has really heated up in the last few years – a certain match comes to mind…

If I can guarantee anything about tonight, the match will certainly not be bland. Their rivalry mixed with the lack of defensive structure in both sides, means we are set up for a belting game.

Don’t forget, Chelsea and Tottenham are still gunning for a place in European competition next year. There is no room for slip-ups.

I can’t wait for this one to get going, so let’s get cracking.