There’s something faintly poetic, and faintly painful, about Tottenham’s defence. One minute it’s a fortress of towering potential, the next it’s crumbling like a soggy Rich Tea. But for once, on a spring night in west London, the familiar centre-back pairing of Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven are poised to reunite — the first time since that infamous reverse fixture in December when both limped off, leaving more questions than answers.
Photo IMAGO
Balancing pragmatism with pressure
Ange Postecoglou doesn’t do compromise — at least, that’s the theory. But with a Europa League quarter-final looming and Spurs teetering on the edge of four consecutive defeats to Chelsea, even the most principled ideals start to look negotiable. The predicted Spurs lineup suggests he’ll go with his strongest available side for this derby, with squad rotation likely reserved for the weekend’s meeting with Southampton.
Photo: IMAGO
Full-back dilemma and midfield shuffle
There’s a tactical knot to untangle at full-back. Pedro Porro feels like a given, which leaves Djed Spence and Destiny Udogie vying for the opposite flank. Spence has been quietly excellent for months. Udogie? Still compelling, but likely benched.
In midfield, it’s a game of geometry and risk. Rodrigo Bentancur, Lucas Bergvall and James Maddison form a triangle of control and creativity — yet Pape Matar Sarr remains an appealing wildcard. Archie Gray, fresh from a patchy Fulham outing, adds yet another flavour to the mix.
Picture:IMAGO
Attack leans on youthful verve and old shoulders
Up front, Son Heung-min carries the weight of expectation, as always. Dominic Solanke has quietly become indispensable, while Wilson Odobert — buoyed by recent exploits with France U21s — appears to have edged ahead of Brennan Johnson and Mikey Moore for a starting berth. “Fit but not involved” is the word on Richarlison, who continues to train but won’t feature.
Photo IMAGO
Predicted Spurs XI (4-3-3): Vicario; Porro, Romero, van de Ven, Spence; Bentancur, Bergvall, Maddison; Odobert, Solanke, Son
Injured: Kulusevski, Danso, Dragusin
Kick-off: 8pm BST, Thursday, April 3, 2025
Venue: Stamford Bridge, London
Watch live: Sky Sports