After an extended international break, Chelsea are at long last back in action tonight, as we take on Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge. It’s the latest edition of this classic, one-sided, and often quite dramatic rivalry, which is generally good money for a Chelsea win with a fun helping of schadenfreude on the side.
Obviously, a win is never actually guaranteed, and given the state of these two teams, you would indeed have to be a bold bettor to pick any outcome with any certainty. Chelsea begin the day back down in sixth after wins earlier this week by both Manchester City and Newcastle United, so it’s imperative for our Champions League hopes that we finish the day back in fourth with a win.
Date / Time: Thursday, April 3, 2025, 20.00 BST; 3pm EDT; 12:30am IST (next day)
Venue: Stamford Bridge, SW6
Referee: Craig Pawson (on pitch); Jarred Gillett (VAR; no semi-automated offside yet)
Forecast: The weather’s been ridiculously nice all week — sunniest March on record! — and it will be the warmest, brightest, sunshiniest yet
On TV: Sky Sports Main Event (UK); none (USA); Star Sports Select HD1 (India); SuperSport Premier League, Canal+ Sport 3 (NGA); elsewhere
Streaming: Sky Go (UK); Peacock (USA); Disney+ Hotstar (India); DStv Now (NGA)
Chelsea team news: The big news and the good news is that all three of Cole Palmer, Nicolas Jackson, and Noni Madueke have been passed fit and should be set to play a part in this one. I’m guessing Jackson and Palmer will both start and Noni will come off the bench. Malo Gusto has also been removed from the injury list, though his brief absence prior to the international break didn’t really garner much coverage.
The less big and certainly less good news is that Roméo Lavia has once again picked up some sort of ailment (any bets on hamstring?), ruling him out for at least this game, and, if history is any guide, probably for a bit longer beyond that as well. Lavia has managed just three appearances in the last four months.
Marc Guiu is our only other absentee, which means that we’re the healthiest we’ve been in several months. Enzo Maresca has pointed to that as an excuse/explanation for our drop in form during that time; no more excuses!
Spurs team news: Ange Postecoglou somehow remains in charge still of Spurs, despite them languishing in 14th place. They have not finished in the bottom half of the table since 2007-08 (11th) and would match their worst league finish since 1994. In the league, they have just four wins since Thanksgiving (17 games), three of wins came back-to-back-back in February.
But hey, that’s (probably) good news for us, since Ange isn’t going to sit back or spring a tactical surprise that would create a pre-game headache for the Chelsea coahng staff.
Another development that should favor the Blues is the absence via injury of Dejan Kulusevski, who joins the likes of Richarlison and Radu Dragusin on the sidelines. Lucas Bergvall will be a gametime decision.
View from the enemy: Cartilage Free Captain