Match of the weekend: Champions League Contenders Showdown

This weekend brings together the new ‘Big Four’; with Spurs the latest member of the big four playing host to Chelsea on Sunday while Arsenal will travel to the North-West to play Manchester United at Old Trafford on Monday. This weekend might prove to be pivotal for the title contenders as they jostle for points and positions. I will focus on these two important fixtures of the weekend. First we head to North London, White Hart Lane to be precise.

  

Tottenham v Chelsea

White Hart Lane

It is the ‘Pretenders to the throne’ against the Champions. Harry Redknapp’s Lilywhites have punched above their weight in Europe this season and Harry has made mention of Spurs’ potentials of winning the Premier League. A true test of Spurs’ championship credentials will come in the form of Chelsea in this London Derby. Tottenham have made their title aspiration clear with that 3-2 win over Arsenal at the Emirates in November and it is high time they are taken serious as genuine contenders. Of the ‘Old Big Four,’ Spurs have claimed the scalps of Arsenal and Liverpool so far. The Lilywhites will be looking to add Chelsea to that list when they file out against the Blues on Sunday.

Spurs were held to a 1-1 draw at Birmingham last Saturday despite taking an early lead much to Harry Redknapp’s disappointment as his Spurs side lost vital ground in the title race. With the little issue of qualification for the second round of the UEFA Champions League settled, Spurs can now mount a push for the top of the Barclays Premier League. Spurs rued those lost points at Birmingham; and a win over Chelsea on Sunday will throw the Lilywhites back in the mix of things at the top of the table.

Chelsea’s ranks were boosted with the return of John Terry and Michael Essien for the game against Everton at Stamford Bridge last Saturday but the Blues conceded late and had to settle for a 1-1 draw against David Moyes’ Everton. Chelsea’s recent poor run of form has seen the Blues lose top spot and slide down to third on the league table, two points behind leaders Arsenal. A win at White Hart Lane on Sunday will be a massive boost for their title aspirations. And with news that Frank Lampard might be fit for this clash, it seems the Chelsea machinery may be just be purring to life.

This game promises to be a cracker as Spurs never-say-die attitude will pitted against Chelsea’s attacking play. Both sides have met a total of 69 times on Spurs’ turf, Tottenham have won 26 games with Chelsea breathing down their neck with 25 wins while 18 games have ended in draws.

When will the Blues notch up a league victory again? That is the million pound question to be answered and with consecutive league games against Manchester United and Arsenal to come, the champions have their work cut out. But with this league season of unpredictability, one cannot tell what happens next.

Men to Watch

Should Rafael Van der Vaart be fit for this game, he will prove to be more than a handful for the Chelsea defence. The Dutchman has a knack for scoring goals at White Hart Lane, dangerous from set-pieces, I wouldn’t rule him out of the goals should he make the squad for the game.

Gareth Bale has been terrorising many right backs lately and Chelsea had better have an anti-Bale mechanism in place to keep the left-back cum winger in check. With an eye for goal, the Welsh Wizard’s pace down the flank is blistering and I am sure Harry Redknapp will utilise Bale’s speed against Chelsea.

Diminutive Jermaine Defoe does punch above his height, what he lacks for height he compensates with a deft touch and a keen eye for goal. Defoe will feed off the knock downs from either strike partner Roman Pavlyuchenko or Peter Crouch and will prove to be a handful for the Chelsea defence.

 Defoe and Lennon….happy times.

John Terry, the inspirational Blues captain is back after a spell on the side-lines and his presence on the pitch will help galvanise the Blues. With an eye for goal from set-pieces, Terry’s presence in the Spurs’ box should be a cause for alarm for the North-London club. Terry should also be able to win the defensive aerial battles against the over six feet Spurs’ strikers Peter Crouch and Roman Pavlyuchenko.

Petr Cech as the last line of defence for Chelsea has to be at his best should his team want maximum points. With the towering strike force of Crouch and Pavlyuchenko, Cech will definitely be kept busy on Sunday.

Nicolas Anelka, the sulking Frenchman if left unattended will create space for his strike partner to score. Anelka is skilful; though not the fastest in the pack he surely has eyes for goal and provides an assist every now and then.

Le sulk on the prowl.

My MOTW Prediction

This fixture has always produced goals and Sunday’s tie won’t be an exception. Spurs are not shy in front of goal and are quite prolific at home; against Chelsea, I expect an open and expansive play from both sides. Both sides are in dire need of three points after their respective draws last weekend. While Chelsea are a team under intense pressure with their winless streak extended to four games following last week’s home draw to Everton, Spurs must not let complacency set in. Spurs have the habit of conceding early in games and against a team like Chelsea that may be their undoing. Tottenham will like to put their stamp on the league this season as the top club in London but Chelsea will definitely have their say about that. To most neutrals this will be one great game of football as both teams will go all-out for victory.

I see goals for both sides and with home advantage; I will tip the scales in Spurs’ favour!

Tottenham 2– 1 Chelsea