Tottenham Hotspur finally broke their 33‑match losing streak at Stamford Bridge with a 2‑0 win over Chelsea on Saturday, a result that many see as a turning point for the club under new manager Roberto De Zerbi. The match, played in rain and wind, saw Tottenham take advantage of a chaotic second half, with an own goal from Mike Penders and a late strike from Mathys Tel sealing the victory.
The first half was a tense affair, with both teams struggling to create clear chances. Tottenham edged the early half in possession, but the game truly opened up in the 69th minute when Mateus Fernandes, attempting to stop Cole Palmer’s forward run, handled the ball. The incident led to a confrontation between the clubs’ staff and saw both players receive yellow cards. Chelsea, missing their top scorer João Pedro after an injury in training, were unable to find the same attacking rhythm that had characterized their earlier season under Xabi Alonso. The turning point came in the 77th minute when Fernandes curled a corner into the box and Penders, in his first league start, misjudged a clear‑cut attempt and inadvertently sent the ball into his own net. Palmer was subsequently shown a second yellow for a late tackle on Conor Gallagher, which resulted in a red card and left Chelsea with ten men.
Mathys Tel then capitalised on the opportunity, driving forward and firing a 20‑yard effort into the bottom corner to make it 2‑0. The win was De Zerbi’s first at Stamford Bridge and the first for Tottenham in the Premier League at the ground since April 2018. It also marked the first home defeat for Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso, who now finds his side in fourth place while Spurs climb to 12th in the standings.
De Zerbi praised the team’s performance, noting that the win was a statement of the club’s new direction after a £400 million summer overhaul. He highlighted Fernandes’ influence, who recorded 121 touches, 91 of 99 passes completed, and five tackles, and whose corner led to the own goal. The manager also acknowledged the resilience shown by the squad, especially after the loss of key players such as João Pedro, who has been absent for only one other league match this season.
Chelsea’s defensive woes continued, with goalkeeper Mike Penders making a costly error that cost the club a clean sheet. The match also exposed disciplinary issues, as Cole Palmer’s two yellow cards underscored a pattern of indiscipline that has plagued the team in previous seasons. Meanwhile, Tottenham’s James Maddison, who returned from an ACL injury, showed flashes of his former quality before being substituted early in the second half.
With the win, Tottenham have moved closer to the middle of the table, while Chelsea remain in fourth but will need to address their defensive frailties and disciplinary problems if they hope to challenge for European qualification. The result gives De Zerbi a platform to build on as the season progresses, while Chelsea must regroup and find consistency in the remainder of the campaign.