"For Maresca, this was a chance to steady the ship; for Frank, an opportunity to prove Spurs could finally shake off their Chelsea hoodoo. Instead, the evening reinforced old truths: Chelsea own this rivalry. Spurs have now won just one of their last 14 league meetings with the Blues-a statistic that loomed large as the home crowd's optimism curdled into audible anger."
"The game's turning point came in the 34th minute. Spurs were attempting to play out from the back when Micky van de Ven hesitated under pressure. Moisés Caicedo, immense throughout, pounced with predatory timing, dispossessing the defender and sliding a simple square pass to João Pedro. The Brazilian made no mistake, firing low past Guglielmo Vicario from eight yards. It was Pedro's first goal since August-a timely strike for a player whose finishing has been questioned."
"From that moment, Chelsea dictated everything. Their press was coordinated, their midfield-anchored by Caicedo and Reece James-controlled tempo, and their attacking rotations stretched Spurs' back line to breaking point. Frank's plan unraveled early when Lucas Bergvall departed with a concussion inside seven minutes. His replacement, Xavi Simons, offered flashes of creativity but couldn't mask Spurs' structural issues. The midfield lacked cohesion, and the front line-"
Tottenham entered the match third under Thomas Frank with set-piece strengths, while Chelsea sat ninth after a shock defeat to Sunderland. Micky van de Ven's hesitation allowed Moisés Caicedo to dispossess him and feed João Pedro, who finished low from eight yards for the only goal. Chelsea then controlled the game with coordinated pressing, midfield dominance from Caicedo and tempo control involving Reece James, and attacking rotations that stretched Spurs' defence. Spurs lost Lucas Bergvall to a concussion early; Xavi Simons flashed creativity but could not remedy midfield disorganisation or a blunt front line, leaving home fans frustrated.
Read at Soccer News
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