Tottenham Face Biggest Test Yet in Chelsea

In 19 matches so far this season, Tottenham have yet to encounter as in-form a team as Chelsea. It will take tremendous effort — and luck — to overcome their London rivals on Saturday.

Tottenham fans can consider the most basic of statistics: in the last six Premier League matches, Chelsea have conceded precisely zero goals — and scored 17 of their own.

Admittedly, the opponents they’ve faced over that run haven’t exactly come from the top of the table. The biggest scalp they can claim is Jose Mourinho’s faltering Manchester United.

Still, the run made Chelsea the in-form team in all of Europe at the moment, and earned them a spot atop the Premier League table.

Tottenham have faced stern competition so far this season and performed well, of course. They took on Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in early October and secured a dazzling 2-0 win. Just three weeks ago they traveled to Arsenal widely expected to lose and scrapped by a 1-1 draw.

More from Match Previews

While City and Arsenal could at the time — and still can — make a face for being genuine title contenders, there were obvious flaws that could be exploited. City’s defense struggled when pressed. Arsenal’s attack became stifled against narrowly organized backlines. The adjustments Pochettino made in those games easily the two best examples of his tactical meddling so far this season.

Such flaws are much harder to come by in Conte’s team however. After struggling to find their feet to start the season, Chelsea crystallized after the 3-0 defeat to Arsenal in October. It was at that moment that their current amazing streak began.

In the face of such adversity, Conte didn’t experiment or innovate. He reverted back to a tactical set that he knew worked. It had won him three consecutive Serie A titles with Juventus after all.

Conte’s tactics essentially rely on a strong base. At Juventus that was Gianluigi Buffon in goal with Giorgio Chiellini, Andrea Balzalgi and Leonardo Bonucci ahead of him in a three-man defense. Those four represent the absolute best that Italy had to offer, and formed a virtually airtight seal on Juve’s goal.

Such a study foundation liberated the seven players ahead of the defense. An aging Andrea Pirlo was brought into the team to play as Juve’s quarterback, distributing the ball quickly, accurately and efficiently. Paul Pogba, Claudio Marchisio and Arturo Vidal rotated in free roles in the center of the park.

The wing-backs could be aggressive, flying down the flanks in support of the attack. Though Conte’s Juventus never found a forward or striker that fit naturally into the system — with the possible exception of Carlos Tevez — a series of relatively mediocre players succeeded in the system all the same.

Today’s Chelsea doesn’t exactly resemble Conte’s Juventus. The solid three-at-the-back formation is there, yes, but none of Cesar Azpilicueta, Gary Cahill or David Luiz are quite at the level of the aforementioned Italian centre-back trio. They rely heavily on the defensive cover of N’Golo Kanté ahead of them, with some assist from Nemanja Matic.

As talented as those midfielders are, they aren’t quite Pogba and Vidal either. That’s where the inferior comparisons stop.

What distinguishes Conte’s Chelsea most from his legendary Juventus team is quality in attack and in width.

Despite an awful season last time out, the Italian inherited perhaps the best attack in the Premier League. Eden Hazard and Diego Costa deserve to be in the running for the Golden Boot each season, while Willian and Pedro both particularly talented as well.

Conte switched the oft-unused Victor Moses to wing-back and brought in Marco Alonso from Fiorentina. Combined they make a particularly dangerous, aggressive pair, confident as they are in Chelsea’s firm defensive base behind them.

This Chelsea team, in sum, isn’t a collection of loose parts. Conte’s made them work together, complementing each other’s skills and giving freedom to those players who would use it best. Releasing Hazard from any defensive responsibilities is perhaps the best change Conte’s made yet.

Tottenham’s struggles are coming at the precisely wrong time. The team that breaks Chelsea’s streak will need to be one with an organized, coordinated and inspired attacking machine. This Spurs team couldn’t even muster a single shot in the first half against Monaco on Tuesday.

Next: Who Starts for Tottenham Against Chelsea?

It could be that Tottenham’s best-in-the-league defense presents a challenge to Chelsea, but even that feels like an unlikely dream with Toby Alderweireld and Danny Rose out. Hazard and company are anxious to meet a severely depleted Tottenham backline.

None of which is to suggest that hope and luck couldn’t still play a role. Perhaps Pochettino has another trick up his sleeve. For most Tottenham fans, though, Saturday’s match looks set to deliver yet more misery.