Chelsea: Firepower in abundance, defensive questions remain

Chelsea opened their preseason in thrilling fashion, defeating Western Sydney Wanderers 6-4 in a match that showcased their attacking quality but also highlighted familiar defensive shortcomings. Xabi Alonso's side looked dangerous every time they went forward, yet their back line continued to leave opportunities for the opposition.

The Blues have now gone six consecutive matches without recording a clean sheet, while both teams have scored in five of those fixtures. Even so, Chelsea continue to enjoy the upper hand in this rivalry, having beaten Tottenham in each of their last six meetings. Their latest encounter ended in a 2-1 victory, extending an impressive winning streak over their London rivals.

Although Chelsea closed the previous Premier League campaign with just one victory in their final nine league games, that lone success came against Spurs, giving the squad extra confidence heading into another showdown.

Tottenham: A fresh start under De Zerbi

Tottenham are beginning a new chapter with Roberto De Zerbi after consecutive seasons spent battling near the bottom of the Premier League table. Encouraging performances in preseason, coupled with several new arrivals, have created renewed optimism around the club.

Spurs have started their summer unbeaten, recording victories over MK Dons (1-0) and Auckland City (2-0) before sharing a 1-1 draw with Sydney FC. They have found the back of the net in all three friendlies, suggesting the attacking unit is already settling into De Zerbi's system.

At the defensive end, Tottenham have looked more reliable than Chelsea, conceding an average of just 0.67 goals across their last six matches. However, history has not been kind to Spurs against the Blues, and their determination to finally end that poor run could encourage a more adventurous approach than usual.

Match facts

Chelsea have won their last six meetings with Tottenham.

Both teams have scored in five of Chelsea's previous six matches.

Tottenham have scored in all three of their preseason fixtures this summer.

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