chelsea Pedro Costa

Twitter: Fans, Gary Lineker, Rio Ferdinand React To An Intriguing Battle Between Chelsea And Tottenham

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pochettino
Tottenham Hotspur’s unbeaten run came to an end with a 2-1 defeat at Stamford Bridge which also moved Chelsea to the summit of the league once again. The gripping London Derby was a tale of two halves and did pack a substantial amount of spices – two spectacular goals, Conte’s vivacious celebrations at the sidelines and a heated argument between both managers that thankfully concluded with handshakes.

In terms of team selections, no surprise that Conte deployed the similar XI and formation while Mauricio Pochettino had to make a number of changes as some key players continue to receive medical attentions.

Spurs started the game livelier, showing more purpose and clearly looking to exorcise their midweek Champions League setback and the poor record against the Blues, especially at Stamford Bridge. In the 10th minute, Christian Eriksen broke the deadlock with a left-footed thunderous strike that ended Chelsea’s clean sheet streak and downright silenced the home crowd. The Danish international has been off colors since the season started and it was the perfect way to alarm his return. Teeming with confidence, the visitors looked like the home side while the Blues weren’t even finding solutions for a comeback. Dembele and Wanyama completely overwhelmed their opponents in the middle of the park with quick pressing and challenges, while Kyle Walker rather employed like an auxiliary winger on the right flank.

As it was looking like the away side would be marching into the break, holding onto the lead, Pedro clawed one back with a sublime goal. Not being closed down quickly by the Spurs defenders, the former Barcelona man brilliantly working the space before hitting a curled right-footed effort into the far corner, leaving Hugo Lloris no chance. His third goal of the season got the home fans and Conte springing with ecstasy.

chelsea Pedro Costa

Both teams resumed the match in the second period with no changes to their side. Five minutes later, Chelsea’s most improved player this season, Victor Moses got the home side ahead with a clean strike, resulting from a Diego Costa assist, who bombarded into the penalty box with sheer grit despite being shackled by a couple of Spurs defenders. Though, Pochettino would be infuriated looking at Moses finding so much space in the 18-yard box. Adding up to his frustrations, Conte’s reactions not far away got them exchanging a few words yet it did not stop the Chelsea boss to continually urge the home crowd to make it a pressure-cooker environment for the visitors.

Since taking the lead, it was all Chelsea. They grew in confidence as the match advanced and habitually started knocking the doors of the Spurs backline. Yet, the man to watch, Eden Hazard was somewhat quiet by his standards. Both managers brought in a number of fresh players from the bench yet the score remained in favours of Antonio Conte’s team.

It’s been a disastrous week for the team in white and they’ll be looking to bounce back when they host Swansea at home next weekend. The Blues, on the other hand, will pat themselves on the back having registered 7 wins on the trot.

As exciting as the match, we have rounded up some of the best tweets from around the world.

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