Chelsea reignited their Champions League hopes with a tense 1-0 victory over London rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday, courtesy of a clinical header from Enzo Fernández.
The win at Stamford Bridge lifted the Blues back into fourth place, piling pressure on Manchester City and Newcastle United in the race for a coveted top-four finish.
The match, a high-stakes London derby, saw Chelsea dominate early proceedings, with Cole Palmer pulling the strings in his return from injury.
Five minutes into the second half, Palmer delivered a pinpoint cross into the box, leaving Fernández unmarked to head past a helpless Guglielmo Vicario.
The goal sent Stamford Bridge into raptures, while England coach Thomas Tuchel—watching from the stands—took notes on Palmer’s electric performance.
Chelsea thought they had doubled their lead when Moisés Caicedo unleashed a stunning volley, only for VAR to rule it out for offside, cutting short the celebrations.
Spurs, struggling to carve out clear chances, believed they had found their equalizer in the 69th minute through Pape Sarr, but the joy was short-lived as VAR intervened again, disallowing the goal for a foul in the buildup.
With their top-four hopes dwindling, Spurs launched a late assault, but Robert Sánchez produced a sensational save in the 89th minute to deny Son Heung-Min’s close-range effort, ensuring Chelsea walked away with all three points.
The defeat added another chapter to Tottenham’s nightmare at Stamford Bridge, where they have won just once in their last 40 league visits.
Their European ambitions now hinge on success in the Europa League, with their domestic form failing to inspire confidence.
As the final whistle blew, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca let out a roar of relief, embracing his coaching staff after a much-needed win following their recent defeat to Arsenal.
Spurs fans, meanwhile, voiced their frustration at manager Ange Postecoglou, who cheekily cupped his hand to his ear after Sarr’s disallowed goal, seemingly mocking their discontent.
Postecoglou later shrugged off the criticism, telling Talksport: “Fans express their opinions. That’s fine, and I have to accept it.”
Chelsea defender Levi Colwill summed up the night’s significance: “We need to win games. We’re fighting for the Champions League. To win games, we have to change our style sometimes.”
With Chelsea now holding a one-point advantage over City in fifth—and a game in hand—Maresca’s side has put themselves in the driving seat.
But with the race for Champions League football heating up, every point will be crucial in the season’s final stretch.
