Coming up later today is the much-anticipated first leg encounter between two arch-enemies in an EFL cup semi-final to fight for a chance to reach the final.
Tottenham will be hosting Chelsea later today in a match that promises to be a very tough battle and at the same time an exciting fixture for both teams and for the fans.
Both teams have had their fair shares of ups and downs this season in the premier league, but have done really well so far in the EFL cup.
Spurs are currently in all competitions and are trying to fight for every single trophy they can lay their hands this season, for a chance to try to win a silverware for the first time after so many years without a trophy.
Chelsea on the other hand, have won this competition several times and even though this competition isn’t that of a priority for them, they will be looking to try to win a trophy under the new manager who has never won a trophy and also be looking to get their revenge against Spurs who were the first side to give them their first defeat this season.
On paper, both teams are well capable of getting the win, so it will be a very tough match for either team.
Tottenham vs Chelsea
The Chelsea fans are excited about this fixture for a chance to get their revenge against Spurs after their loss to them in the premier league and at the same time are nervous about the game because of the possibility to lose the second time against their arch-enemy.
This will be Sarri’s first game against spurs in the EFL cup and I know by now that he knows how strong this Spurs team is and also how much this fixture means to the fans in terms of the history between these two teams.
For both teams, getting the all-important victory in this first leg of the semi-final is very crucial to go into the second leg with the upper hand.
For Spurs, they have not won a silverware for a very long time, so this game will be a very important match for them. They are playing at the Wembley stadium which is serving as their home ground and in front of their fans which will be a huge advantage for them to play the game with more confidence. They know the quality of this Chelsea team, so they will want to play their best to try to get the desired result out of the game.
For Chelsea, they are going into this game with their first defeat this season against Spurs at the back of their mind to try to get their revenge. They know that playing Spurs away is always a very difficult task, so they will be going into this game well aware that they can lose the game if they perform as they did against them in the premier league. They want to win this competition, so they will be going into the game to play their best and try to get the desired result to take to the bridge for the second leg encounter.
My Expectations in Terms of Tactics and Gameplay
For Spurs, they will probably setup in a 4-1-2-1-2 or 4-2-3-1 formation. Pochettino may want to go with similar tactics that he used against the Blues in the premier league, or he might decide to surprise them with a different tactic. Whichever tactics he decides to utilize, he will want his team to press aggressively without allowing the Chelsea players any time and space on the ball and also for his team to be very quick and clinical in their counter-attacks.
For Chelsea, they will most likely setup in their usual 4-3-3 formation. Just like Sarri said in his pre match press conference, he wants his team to approach the game with more aggressiveness. This is the second time Sarri is facing this Pochettino side this season, but the first time in this competition, so he will want to take this competition and try to win a silverware in his first spell in the premier league.
He will want his team to try to keep possession and control the game while also creating goal scoring chances and be clinical in front of goal. Aggressiveness
My Prediction
For me, I think this will be an entertaining and at the same time a very difficult battle between the two arch-enemies. The Blues will be looking to correct the mistake that saw them lose comfortably against this Spurs team this season and get their revenge. Spurs, on the other hand, will be motivated to get their second victory against the Blues this season.
Both teams are very good attack-minded teams, so I believe there will be over 2.5 goals in this game and they will both try to take the game to each other which might make the game a little bit more open for goal scoring chances.
This is just my opinion… Let’s see what happens in the match later today, we hope for an entertaining game of football for the fans to enjoy.
And that is a wrap…
What do you think will be the outcome of this match?
I would love to read your own opinions… Enjoy your day.
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