By Daily Sports on September 19, 2021

Having posted contrasting results in their opening European encounters, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea prepare for battle in an eye-catching London derby in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.

The hosts played out a 2-2 draw with Rennes in the Europa Conference League in midweek, whereas Chelsea started their Champions League defence with a 1-0 success over Zenit St Petersburg.

With a hefty amount of expected changes in tow, Spurs kicked off their Conference League group-stage campaign against French powerhouses Rennes on Thursday night, but they only had one point and two more injury problems to show for their efforts.

After Loic Bade’s own goal gave Tottenham the lead, Rennes responded through Flavien Tait and new signing Gaetan Laborde, but Tottenham lynchpin Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg came off the bench to rescue a point for his side at the Roazhon Park.

It may have been all sunshine and rainbows for Nuno Espirito Santo during his three-game winning run in the Premier League – which saw Spurs briefly top the rankings – but a humbling 3-0 defeat at Crystal Palace last weekend has seen them drop to seventh amid a challenging seven days.

However, both of Spurs’ underwhelming results in that period have come on the road, with Santo’s side scoring five goals and conceding none in their three home victories so far this term, and they have won 11 of their last 13 games on familiar territory in all competitions.

Not since the 2002-03 campaign have the North London side taken nine points from their opening three fixtures on home soil, but any chances of the injury-hit hosts ending that 19-year streak appear slim against a Chelsea side with a glint in their eyes.

Thomas Tuchel only just managed to scrape a top-four finish with this Chelsea side last term amid their run to Porto, but the German's well-oiled machine firmly have the look of title contenders this time around, although clashes with Juventus and Manchester City before the end of the month will truly test their mettle.

The Blues travel across the capital having lost just one of their last 15 away matches in all competitions, while they have scored in each of their last six Premier League matches on the road – a streak that does not appear to be ending any time soon with Lukaku firing on all cylinders.

A Jorginho penalty propelled Chelsea to a 1-0 win in this fixture last term during the earliest days of Tuchel’s reign, and the Blues are unbeaten in their last five Premier League matches versus Tottenham – winning four of them and conceding just one goal in that run. (Sports Mole)

•PHOTO: Tottenham and Chelsea players

Source Daily Sports

Posted September 19, 2021

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