Tottenham Break 40-Year Drought with 2-0 Victory at Chelsea

Tottenham Hotspur defeated Chelsea 2-0 at Stamford Bridge, ending a 40-year wait for a league win away to the Blues. The first goal came from a Mike Penders own-goal after a Mateus Fernandes corner, and Mathys Tel added a solo strike after a 45-metre run. Spurs held 68.9 % possession, created 58 entries into the final third, and posted an expected-goals (xG) figure of 0.74.

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Chelsea had proved a near-impossible venue: in 34 previous Premier League visits Spurs had won only once, and the last win-to-nil at Stamford Bridge occurred in December 1986. Tottenham entered the match in the relegation zone with a solitary league win after back-to-back 17th-place finishes. The club’s summer overhaul under Roberto De Zerbi involved a £394 million spending spree, but early-season results suggested the new signings needed time to gel. A 1-1 draw at Manchester United and a narrow win over Coventry hinted at improvement, culminating in the Chelsea triumph.

The GuardianThe two players Tottenham must sign to become title challengers under Roberto De Zerbi Six Tottenham players guaranteed to miss Crystal Palace amid potential double injury boost De Zerbi praises Kudus impact in Tottenham’s win

• Possession: 68.9 %

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• Expected goals: 0.74 (among the lowest ratios for a team with 58 final-third entries)

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• Mateus Fernandes: 124 touches, 5 tackles, 92.2 % pass completion (102 passes), 27 line-breaking passes (12th-most in the league)

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• Final-third entries: 58, yielding only 0.74 xG

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• Goal contributions: Tel’s 45-metre solo effort, Kudus’ right-flank outlet, and Fernandes’ corner leading to the own-goal

De Zerbi praises Kudus impact in Tottenham’s win

De Zerbi noted that Spurs now face the “easiest” five-match run in the league (Crystal Palace, Leeds, Ipswich, Sunderland and Fulham) before a tougher sequence against Arsenal, Liverpool, Brighton, Bournemouth and Manchester City. He also explained Lucas Bergvall’s absence due to an early-game problem and said the medical staff are managing other sidelined players. Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard praised the performance but argued Tottenham need a world-class striker and goalkeeper to challenge for the title.

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• “I was very happy about the way we played,” — Mathys Tel

Six Tottenham players guaranteed to miss Crystal Palace amid potential double injury boost

• “I think we won the game with two wingers, Kudus and Mathys, they made the difference,” — Roberto De Zerbi

De Zerbi praises Kudus impact in Tottenham’s win

• “Richarlison is not prolific. He’s not prolific, and he’s obviously upset the manager. He doesn’t deserve to play; don’t feel sorry for Richarlison. ?” — Steven Gerrard

The two players Tottenham must sign to become title challengers under Roberto De Zerbi

• “Lucas Bergvall [is out] because he had a problem at the beginning of the game in Manchester,” — Roberto De Zerbi

Six Tottenham players guaranteed to miss Crystal Palace amid potential double injury boost

• “With the medical staff, we are trying to find the best way for him,” — Roberto De Zerbi

Six Tottenham players guaranteed to miss Crystal Palace amid potential double injury boost

Spurs aim to extend their two-game winning streak when they host Crystal Palace, a side that has lost its last two league matches. Potential returns include Lucas Bergvall, Tosin Adarabioyo, Mykhailo Mudryk and James Maddison, though several players remain sidelined. Success in the upcoming “easiest” run could lift Tottenham from 14th place toward a top-six challenge, but the subsequent fixtures against the league’s elite will test whether the recent performance signals a sustained turnaround.

The Guardian