Tottenham rise to 12th after rare win at Chelsea

Tottenham moved up to 12th in the Premier League after beating Chelsea 2-0 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, their highest league position since 2 January. The result extended their unbeaten run to three matches and offered a striking improvement after two consecutive 17th-place finishes.

Roberto De Zerbi’s side have won successive league games for only the second time in 42 attempts. Their victory was helped by Chelsea goalkeeper Mike Penders punching the opening goal into his own net and Cole Palmer being sent off, but Tottenham also had 68% possession — their highest share in a match since April 2025.

James Maddison and Mathys Tel impressed, with Tel scoring the second after a driving run. The win was Tottenham’s second league victory at Chelsea in 36 years and their first clean sheet at Stamford Bridge since 1986.

De Zerbi, appointed in March when Tottenham were one point above the relegation zone with seven games left, said the team’s relationships and spirit had changed. He also pointed to a frank team meeting after a 1-1 draw at Manchester United as a turning point. Tottenham followed that draw with a win over Coventry and the victory at Chelsea.

There are still reasons for caution. Tottenham have scored only eight goals in eight league games, and Maddison went off with a suspected groin injury. De Zerbi said he hoped it was not serious. The result suggests progress, but it does not yet resolve the team’s problems in attack.