Chelsea have a golden chance to strengthen their hold on a top-four finish when they welcome Tottenham Hotspur to Stamford Bridge on Thursday night.
Despite a recent setback against Arsenal, Chelsea remain in control of their Champions League ambitions.
Enzo Maresca’s side are fourth in the table, just a point ahead of Manchester City. Newcastle United are lurking with a game in hand.
Every match matters now, and a win over Spurs would provide a crucial boost in the race for Europe.
Chelsea have won their last four Premier League games at Stamford Bridge, keeping clean sheets in their most recent two.
They last managed three consecutive home league shut-outs in 2024 – a run that included a 2-0 win over Tottenham. Maresca knows his team must capitalise.
“It’s a huge game,” he said. “We know how important it is for the fans and for the club, but it’s also important for us to finish where we are now.”
The Italian has demanded intensity from his squad, even cancelling a scheduled day off to ensure training standards remained high. With nine league games left, the focus is sharp.
The return of key attacking players only strengthens Chelsea’s position. Cole Palmer, Noni Madueke and Nicolas Jackson are all fit again, giving the Blues a much-needed attacking spark.
“It’s very good,” Maresca added. “We struggled when we had so many injuries, but now it’s good to finish with a lot of them back.”
Tottenham arrive in a fragile state. Ange Postecoglou’s side were beaten 2-0 by Fulham before the international break and have now lost eight of their 14 away league games.
Their recent record in London derbies is poor. Spurs have lost five times this season – their worst tally since 2004-05. They have not won at Stamford Bridge since 2018.
Postecoglou acknowledged the challenge ahead. “They’re a talented squad with a good manager,” he said. “At their place, they’re tough to beat.”
Chelsea will look to ensure that remains the case, knowing that a win on Thursday would bring them one step closer to a Champions League return.
