Chelsea vs Tottenham Player Ratings: Mathys Tel Shines as Mike Penders’ Costly Mistake and Cole Palmer’s Red Card Steal the Headlines
Tottenham Hotspur enjoyed a memorable afternoon at Stamford Bridge, securing a 2-0 victory over Chelsea in a rain-soaked London derby that gave Roberto De Zerbi plenty of positives to take away.
Spurs produced an impressive performance against Xabi Alonso’s side, with Mathys Tel making a significant impact in attack and Mateus Fernandes delivering an outstanding display in midfield. Their contributions helped Tottenham maintain control and secure a valuable victory on Chelsea’s home turf.
However, Chelsea’s afternoon was overshadowed by two major incidents. Goalkeeper Mike Penders, who had made several important saves earlier in the game, suffered a costly second-half error when a poorly executed punch resulted in an own goal.
Cole Palmer also endured a frustrating outing, eventually receiving a straight red card in the 80th minute after a dangerous challenge on a Tottenham opponent. His dismissal left Chelsea with an even greater challenge as they attempted to recover from their two-goal deficit.
Despite the defeat, some Chelsea players delivered encouraging performances, particularly in defence. Maxence Lacroix and Levi Colwill stood out, while Moises Caicedo worked hard to disrupt Tottenham’s attacking rhythm.
For Spurs, the result represented a significant boost, with several players delivering the kind of performances De Zerbi will want to see more consistently.
Here is how both teams’ players performed, according to their individual ratings.
Chelsea Player Ratings vs Tottenham Hotspur
Mike Penders – 5/10
Penders made two impressive saves in the first half and showed excellent awareness when rushing off his line to intercept a Tottenham through ball. However, his positive contributions were overshadowed by a disastrous second-half moment when his attempted punch ended up in his own net. It was an unfortunate error that proved costly for Chelsea.
Levi Colwill – 7/10
Colwill was one of Chelsea’s more dependable performers, showing composure and defensive awareness throughout the contest. His partnership with Lacroix looked promising, with the two centre-backs combining effectively to limit Tottenham’s attacking opportunities.
Maxence Lacroix – 8.5/10
Lacroix delivered an outstanding performance at the heart of Chelsea’s defence. He handled several dangerous situations confidently, dominated important defensive areas and occasionally moved forward to support his teammates. His impressive display suggested that he and Colwill could develop into a formidable defensive partnership.
Josh Acheampong – 6.5/10
Acheampong showed flashes of his potential, producing some encouraging defensive actions during the match. Nevertheless, he appeared less convincing than his fellow defenders at certain moments. Although there were positive signs, he will need to improve his consistency to become a more reliable presence in Chelsea’s back line.
Jorell Hato – 6.5/10
Hato demonstrated good pace and determination, working hard on his flank and contributing to Chelsea’s defensive efforts. However, he struggled in individual battles, winning only four of his 10 duels. His energy was evident, but Tottenham managed to create problems in the areas he was responsible for defending.
Jordan Henderson – 5.5/10
It was a difficult afternoon for Henderson, who struggled to provide the control Chelsea needed in midfield. Several inaccurate passes disrupted the team’s rhythm, while Tottenham’s intensity made it difficult for the experienced midfielder to influence proceedings as expected.
Moises Caicedo – 7.5/10
Caicedo was among Chelsea’s strongest performers. He worked tirelessly to break up Tottenham’s attacks, intercepted dangerous passes and demonstrated good awareness when protecting the defence. Although he made several important contributions, his efforts could not prevent Chelsea from suffering defeat.
Pedro Neto – 6.5/10
Neto enjoyed some promising moments, particularly during the first half, when he contributed to Chelsea’s attacking play while also tracking back to help defensively. His work rate was impressive, but he failed to make the decisive contribution needed to turn Chelsea’s promising attacks into goals.
Geovany Quenda – 5/10
Quenda struggled to influence the contest and was largely anonymous during his time on the pitch. He managed just 30 touches in 73 minutes, highlighting how difficult he found it to get involved in Chelsea’s attacking moves. His performance fell short of what the team needed.
Cole Palmer – 4/10
Palmer endured a disappointing afternoon, failing to make a substantial impact before his dismissal became one of the match’s biggest talking points.
The Chelsea attacker showed occasional attacking promise but was fortunate to avoid an earlier red card following a foul involving Mateus Fernandes.
His afternoon eventually ended in the 80th minute when he challenged for a loose ball and caught a Tottenham player around the ankle with his studs. The referee showed him a red card, leaving Chelsea to finish the match with 10 men.
Morgan Rogers – 5/10
Rogers struggled to make his presence felt in the attacking areas. Chelsea lacked a consistent attacking threat throughout the contest, and he found it difficult to influence the game without Joao Pedro. His contribution was limited as Tottenham maintained their advantage.
Chelsea Substitutes
Marco Palestra – 6/10: Came on in the second half and offered a steady contribution.
Estevao Willian – 6.5/10: Brought additional energy to Chelsea’s attacking play after his introduction.
Danny Welbeck – Not rated: Entered the game late and had little time to make a meaningful impact.
Tottenham Hotspur Player Ratings vs Chelsea
Antonin Kinsky – 6.5/10
Kinsky produced a mixed performance between the posts. Some errors while playing with his feet created unnecessary problems for Tottenham, but he responded with important saves to prevent those mistakes from becoming more costly. His three first-half saves helped Spurs maintain their advantage and provided reassurance when Chelsea threatened.
Andy Robertson – 6.5/10
Robertson started brightly, offering energy and attacking support down Tottenham’s left flank. He helped the visitors create problems for Chelsea during the opening stages, although his influence diminished as the match progressed. He was replaced in the 65th minute after a demanding spell.
Micky van de Ven – 7.5/10
Van de Ven delivered a composed defensive display, dealing with Chelsea’s attacking movements effectively. He remained disciplined, made important interventions and helped Tottenham maintain their defensive organisation. His calm approach was particularly valuable as Spurs worked to protect their lead.
Jan Paul van Hecke – 7.5/10
Van Hecke impressed with his ability to carry the ball forward and support Tottenham’s build-up play. He covered considerable ground, defended intelligently and helped the visitors move possession into dangerous areas. His all-round performance made him an important contributor to Tottenham’s victory.
Archie Gray – 6.5/10
Gray delivered a reliable performance, showing his versatility by operating effectively on both flanks when required. He followed his defensive responsibilities while helping Tottenham maintain their structure throughout the contest.
Sandro Tonali – 6.5/10
Tonali produced a solid display in midfield, benefiting from the freedom Mateus Fernandes provided him to move around and take more risks. Although he did not dominate the contest individually, he contributed to Tottenham’s midfield balance and helped the team maintain control.
Mateus Fernandes – 8/10
Fernandes was one of Tottenham’s standout performers, delivering an excellent display that combined creativity, possession control and defensive work.
He recorded 60 touches in the first half, more than any other player during that period, and continued to dictate the tempo as the game progressed. He reached 100 touches before any other player had registered 85, underlining his influence on Tottenham’s possession.
His 13 defensive contributions were also the highest in the match, demonstrating that his performance extended well beyond controlling the ball. Fernandes played a crucial role in helping Spurs dominate midfield and limit Chelsea’s opportunities.
Mathys Tel – 8/10
Tel was a major attacking threat for Tottenham, using his pace, movement and direct approach to trouble Chelsea’s defence.
His energy down the left flank helped drive Spurs’ impressive first-half performance, while his attacking contribution proved important in securing the victory. Tel’s display demonstrated how dangerous Tottenham can be when their forward players combine speed with confidence and determination.
James Maddison – 6.5/10
Maddison was influential during the first half, helping Tottenham create attacking opportunities and maintain control of the contest. His movement and creativity gave Chelsea problems before an apparent injury forced him off in the 51st minute.
His early departure was an unfortunate setback for Spurs, particularly given the positive influence he had exerted before leaving the pitch.
Mohammed Kudus – 7/10
Kudus produced an energetic performance, using his dribbling ability and movement to create problems for Chelsea’s defence. He looked dangerous when carrying the ball forward while also contributing defensively when Tottenham needed to recover possession.
His combination of attacking ambition and defensive discipline helped Spurs maintain their advantage.
Omar Marmoush – 5/10
Marmoush found promising positions but failed to make the most of his opportunities. His biggest chance presented an opportunity to trouble Chelsea, but his effort was saved by Penders, allowing the goalkeeper to build confidence before his later mistake. Marmoush’s movement was encouraging, although his finishing let him down.
Tottenham Hotspur Substitutes
Conor Gallagher – 6/10: Replaced Maddison in the first half and helped Tottenham maintain their midfield structure.
Dominic Solanke – 6/10: Came on in the 65th minute and provided fresh energy in attack.
Pedro Porro – 6/10: Introduced alongside Solanke as Tottenham looked to manage the remainder of the contest.
Ben Davies – Not rated: Entered late in the match with limited time to influence proceedings.
Dejan Kulusevski – Not rated: Came on in the closing stages as Tottenham saw out their victory.
Final Verdict: Tottenham Take the Positives as Chelsea Face Difficult Questions
Tottenham’s 2-0 victory at Stamford Bridge was built on an impressive collective performance, with Mateus Fernandes controlling midfield and Mathys Tel providing an important attacking outlet.
Their ability to combine defensive discipline with purposeful attacking play gave Chelsea significant problems throughout the contest. De Zerbi will be particularly encouraged by the influence of his midfield and the contributions of his attacking players.
Chelsea, meanwhile, will be disappointed by the result and the circumstances surrounding their defeat. Penders’ own goal proved costly, while Palmer’s dismissal added to their frustrations and left the team with little chance of mounting a late comeback.
Although Lacroix, Colwill and Caicedo delivered encouraging performances, Chelsea struggled to turn their positive moments into a sustained attacking threat.
For Tottenham, the victory provides plenty of encouragement. For Chelsea, Penders’ costly mistake and Palmer’s red card will dominate the post-match discussion.
Chelsea vs Tottenham Player Ratings: One Star Steals the Show as Penders’ Nightmare and Palmer’s Red Card Spark Controversy
