Chelsea 1-0 Tottenham: Enzo Fernández’s header clinches vital win

For the second season in a row, Chelsea completed the league double over Tottenham, with Enzo Fernández’s well-timed header in the second half securing a crucial 1-0 victory at Stamford Bridge. You could say it wasn’t the most flattering display, but the Blues were the better side throughout, and most importantly, they got the job done. The win keeps Chelsea in fourth place, maintaining a tight grip on a Champions League spot in a table where every point is vital.

Matchday wasn’t without its setbacks. News came out that Romeo Lavia suffered yet another setback before kickoff, and Wesley Fofana’s absence came as a surprise on the day. However there was some good news—Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson returned to the starting lineup, while Noni Madueke made the squad and came off the bench late in the game. Despite a goalless first half, Chelsea were clearly the more threatening side. Jackson may not have found the net, but his hold-up play and link-up ability gave the attack an edge that had been missing in previous matches. His return for the final stretch of the season is a huge boost for Enzo Maresca’s side. Moisés Caicedo had an injury scare after taking a blow to his right thigh while attempting to win the ball. He went down briefly while trying to walk it off but managed to continue and play the full 90 minutes—a blinder at that.

"Moi is one of the best, if not THE best defensive midfielder in the world right now and the best thing is every day he works seriously, he’s very humble and very kind."

Enzo Maresca

The second half saw Chelsea continue to push for the opener, and it finally arrived through a moment of quality. Palmer, on the edge of the box, floated a perfectly weighted cross into the area, where Fernández made a late run and powered a header past Vicario. It was a well-deserved goal, capping off an excellent performance from the Argentine, who dictated play from deep and still managed to get himself at the end of plays.

Chelsea thought they had doubled their lead through Caicedo, only for VAR to rule the goal out for offside after a lengthy check. Tottenham had their own moment of frustration when Pape Sarr appeared to have found the net, but the goal was ruled out for a clear foul on Caicedo in the buildup. Sarr should have been booked for a blatant dive seconds earlier, but it wasn’t until his foul on Caicedo that the referee finally showed him a yellow card.

With Brentford up next on Sunday, Maresca had to be mindful of squad fitness. Jackson and Palmer, both fresh off injuries, were closely monitored, and substitutions were made at the right time to keep key players fresh. With Manchester City, Newcastle, and Aston Villa all winning on Wednesday, Chelsea had no room for error, and they responded with the exact kind of performance needed.

A clean sheet, three massive points, and another season sweep over Spurs—what’s not to like?