It’s here, a match that is going to be so weird for so many people. The match should be about Chelsea versus Tottenham, but no one can ignore Frank Lampard versus Jose Mourinho.
I have loved Jose Mourinho ever since day one of being a Chelsea fan. To see him standing on the Spurs sideline will be very uncomfortable for me, and undoubtedly Frank Lampard. The student will now face the teacher. This is how Gordon Bombay must have felt in the Mighty Ducks movie.
Anyway, two sides that haven’t exactly been defensive juggernauts face off at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The odds indicate that the two sides are aware of their issues and the tides may change with this match.
According to The Action Network, Jose Mourinho and his Spurs – which sounds so ridiculous to say – are favorites on the spread, which is -0.25 at +100. Chelsea naturally would be +0.25, but that is at -121, meaning the betting public is putting their markers down for this match to end in a draw.
The money line tells the same story: both teams are on the plus side of things, Spurs at +140 and the Blues at +195. The draw isn’t far behind at +262. All the odds are screaming for a very reserved match, with nobody straying too far out of line. Bettors are nailing the over which is currently at 2.5 total goals. By the time kickoff occurs it will be three or more.
Spurs have given up two or more goals in five of their last seven matches. That’s not anything anyone can associate with Mourinho, and is something he will undoubtedly be focused on against his former club. Tottenham scored only one goal in each of their losses under Mourinho, one of which was against Mourinho’s most recent former club, Manchester United. However, both of those games were on the road. On the other hand, Chelsea’s apparent preference for playing on the road is well-known and still beyond even Frank Lampard’s grasp.
Similarly, Frank Lampard will not want to be embarrassed by his former skipper, which could result in a very tight match. The betting public seems to agree since the odds are so close, and more are betting Chelsea getting points on the road than Spurs at home.
I foresee the Blues marching into Spurs’ building and walking out with a point. A 1-1 draw with Chelsea showing more initiative to score in an effort to get three points. Spurs hang on late and secure a point in classic Mourinho style.