Chelsea 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur: Spurs’ relegation scrap will go to the final game

Here is some analysis from Stamford Bridge as Chelsea just about get over the line to win, as that victory keeps their hopes of qualifying for Europe alive.

Spurs could still be relegated, as they need to win at home against Everton on the final day to secure their place in the Premier League. A draw will almost certainly be enough to keep them up too.

But if Spurs lose and West Ham beat Leeds on the final day, then Spurs are relegated. It’s going to go down to the wire...

Gallagher goes down on the edge of the box and wins a free kick in a really dangerous area.

Maddison steps up but curls it way over.

Chelsea breathe a huge sigh of relief.

Spurs are probably going to come up just short and everything is set up for a very nervous final day of the season.

Unless they can find something late, late on.

Just before a corner comes in Micky van de Ven goes down under a challenge from Marc Cucurella in the box.

Cucurella is booked and Spurs want a penalty kick.

But no penalty can be given as the ball wasn’t in play.

This is getting very lively now.

Spurs are having a real go and almost score from the corner when it eventually comes in.

Moments later Liam Delap is shown a yellow card for an elbow on Spence when he was clean through. He can have no complaints.

Wow, that seemed like the moment Spurs would get the point they need.

James Maddison was in on goal, six yards out, and his shot seems destined to go in,

But Hato appears from nowhere to make an incredible block.

That is a seriously great piece of defending.

Spurs pushing hard for the equalizer late on.

A cross comes in from the right and Richarlison heads wide, but he was offside.

Spurs have been well on top but they can’t create any clear openings.

Tottenham Hotspur’s fans in the corner of Stamford Bridge are making a heck of a racket.

News has probably just filtered through to them that Arsenal have won the Premier League title.

Chelsea lead at the break, and that is probably about right.

Tottenham Hotspur were well on top early and hit the post through Tel, but Chelsea have looked more confident and have had all the play since Enzo Fernandez put them ahead with a beauty from way outside the box.

It is getting pretty feisty in midfield with Conor Gallagher involved heavily, and this could get out of hand in the second half.

Spurs are still in it though and they only need one goal in the second half to grab the draw they need.

Chelsea almost have a second and so does Enzo Fernandez.

From a tight angle he whips a vicious free kick to the near post and it hits the crossbar.

Fernandez thought that was in and Kinsky was scrambling across his goal.

Spurs need to regain some momentum here.

Chelsea are well on top now and controlling the tempo of the game.

If Chelsea get a second before half time, it will be curtains for Spurs.

The ball is pinged around on the edge of the box and finds Cole Palmer who curls it towards the far corner.

Kinsky dives to his right and pushes it wide.

Really good stop and that was almost a vintage goal from Cole Palmer.

The Englishman was at his very best there linking up play and then getting the shot off.

Mathys Tel goes so close to putting Spurs ahead, deservedly, and how has that stayed out!?

A great cross is whipped in by Pedro Porro and Tel is at the back post to head home.

His header beats Sanchez but it hits the post and comes out.

The post has saved Chelsea and maybe that will wake them up?

Spurs have been excellent so far and in brief lulls when their fans aren’t singing, you can hear Roberto De Zerbi barking out orders.

This has been a really bright start from Spurs as Kolo Muani, Gallagher and Tel are all pushing forward quickly whenever they get the chance.

Chelsea are looking a little sluggish. Spurs have started really well.

Hato almost makes a horrible error to knock the ball into his own net after a long ball forward from Pedro Porro.

Spurs have a corner which comes to nothing but they are well on top here.

Plenty of long balls forward from Spurs which is taking out Chelsea’s talented midfield. It is a clear ploy from Roberto De Zerbi and it is working well.

It is very breezy, and a little chilly, here at Stamford Bridge. Both sets of players are going through their paces.

Roberto De Zerbi is stood in the thick of it, watching on intensely.

As always for these games, quite the atmosphere is building up with the music pumping.

It is going to be lively on the pitch and in the stands.

Kinsky - Porro, Danso, Van de Ven, Udogie - Palhinha, Bentancur, Gallagher - Kolo Muani, Tel, Richarlison

Sanchez - Acheampong, Fofana, Hato, Cucurella - Caicedo, Santos, Fernandez - Neto, Palmer, Delap

Sparks usually fly when these two meet and today is no different.

Chelsea have European hopes on the line. Tottenham Hotspur are fighting for Premier League survival. Something has to give.

Here’s how to watch Chelsea vs Spurs in the USA:

How to watch Chelsea vs Tottenham Hotspur live, stream link and start time

Kick off time: 3:15pm ET Tuesday (May 19)
Venue: Stamford Bridge — West London
TV Channel: Peacock
Streaming: Stream live on Peacock

It’s just over 10 years since the famous Battle of the Bridge, where Chelsea rallied to draw 2-2 against Spurs to end their title hopes and hand the title to Leicester City.

Eden Hazard’s stunning goal ended Spurs’ title hopes and a decade on, Chelsea would revel in Spurs’ survival hopes going down to the final day.

There is plenty of spice in these two teams and plenty for both set of players to prove with new managers either just settling in (De Zerbi) or just about to arrive (Alonso).

These fans don’t get along, at all, and that only adds to the atmosphere and creates extra animosity on the pitch. This will be lively. Very lively.

A few days ago Xabi Alonso was announced as the new manager of Chelsea from July 1 and that is a major coup given how talented he is.

So what will Alonso want to see from Chelsea’s players?

He will like them to be flexible and play with high intensity, but also be able to keep the ball. Usually he plays a 3-4-2-1 formation and that should suit a lot of this Chelsea squad.

Alonso probably wants to see Chelsea win these final two games of the season too, as playing in the Europa League would be a decent experience for him to learn more about his squad next season and bed in playing styles.

Some may say that Chelsea not being in Europe would be a good thing, which could be true, but with the size of squad they have it would be a good thing to have more games next season. It worked well in Enzo Maresca’s first season in charge.

We now know that a win for Spurs will definitely keep them in the Premier League.

And a draw will probably do it too given their 13-goal advantage over the only other team in the relegation scrap, West Ham.

So how will Roberto De Zerbi set them up?

It’s very likely he goes with the same starting lineup he deployed against Leeds just over a week ago, with Joao Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur sitting in front of the back four and Conor Gallagher providing energy and creativity from the No. 10 role in a compact 4-2-3-1 system.

De Zerbi will need that trio to dictate the tempo of the game and slow down any Chelsea transitions, as they love to get Pedro Neto and Joao Pedro flying forward if Cole Palmer can get the space to turn on the ball and provide passes.

Defensively Spurs will have to sit in and suffer and they have certainly got better at doing that under De Zerbi.

They need to be disciplined and clinical, and it’s down to Richarlison, Mathys Tel and Randal Kolo Muani to take chances of their own when Spurs get chances on the counter. They want dominate possession so they have to be ruthless when they get opportunities to break. It’s all about holding their nerve.