- Tottenham 0-1 Chelsea : Joao Pedro 42’
As usual, Chelsea came out on top against Tottenham with the slimmest of margins — a 1–0 win. João Pedro was the lone scorer in what turned out to be a slow-paced and scrappy match.
Since his Premier League debut in 2021, Thomas Frank has only lost twice to Chelsea. Every team seems to have its antidote, and for Chelsea, the Danish coach had long been theirs. Setting up with a back five — with Palhinha frequently dropping between Danso and Van de Ven — Tottenham aimed to stay compact. The result, however, was an incredibly passive display from a side that seemed content to surrender every buildup opportunity.
Chelsea’s midfield work was relentless, closing down every opposing playmaker. In their 4-3-3 setup, Reece James’ defensive cover gave Caicedo the freedom to push higher, and it was off a high press that the Blues found their breakthrough. Caicedo intercepted a pass, setting up João Pedro to score and redeem himself after missing an earlier one-on-one.
In the second half, Tottenham never managed to inject any energy into the game, much like their creative duo Xavi Simons and Mohammed Kudus, who were completely neutralized by Chelsea’s disciplined organization. Despite bringing on Odobert, Johnson, and Richarlison, Spurs failed to create a single clear-cut chance.
Even though Chelsea wasted a few chances to seal the match, they left North London with another win in the bag. It was an ugly game — full of tough tackles and technical sloppiness — but for the Blues, it was business as usual at Three Points Lane.