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I’m not the biggest advocate of the post-Christmas, pre-AFCON slate of football because there’s just excuses flying around left, right and centre.
Three months ago, you had a very different situation for this London derby. Chelsea were league winners in-waiting while Spurs were going backwards under Nuno.
Chelsea v Tottenham: Carabao Cup semi-final, first leg
Wednesday, January 5: 7:45pm
Sky Sports Main Event/Sky Sports Football
Now this can be the defining moment to cement it going the other way as Antonio Conte returns to Stamford Bridge.
A Carabao Cup final might not be the pre-season ambition, but this is a chance at symbolism and Wembley – both of which matter in this context. And what’s a winner-take-all-energy-drink-endorsed midweek clash without a Bet Builder?
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* A Bet Builder of these four best bets pays at approximately 17/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
Tottenham and the Draw
I have a view in my mind of how this game is going to go, and it’s very difficult to see Chelsea winning it.
The reason for this is largely down to the mindset they now find themselves in. Tuchel went to control games rather than win them using the immense world-class talent he had in the final third at PSG.
Without consistency or a defined attacking threat, it’s hard for Chelsea to consistently find the net and away sides at the Bridge are learning to combat their tendencies.
Spurs haven’t lost in the Premier League since Conte has taken over, while Chelsea have won just two of their last seven.
Under 1.5 Goals
Spurs have scored more than a single goal away from home just once all season in the Premier League. And that was against Newcastle. Four of Chelsea’s last six goals in the league have either come from the penalty spot or via the now-sidelined Romelu Lukaku.
There aren’t too many scenarios in which this game becomes free-flowing, especially given the likelihood of the second leg being the decider.
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Half-Time: The Draw
With ‘three quarters’ of the tie still to go after the first 45 minutes in west London, it’s safe to expect a cagey opening – particularly with the hosts coming off the back of an energy-sapping draw with Liverpool on Sunday.
Add in Tottenham playing away from home and surely fancying then to do the business on their own patch next week, we can expect to see them keep things tight at the back rather than pour men forward.
Under 8.5 Corners
This selection makes the cut as we’re looking for a leg that indicates the ball being in play a lot of the time, and corners is an easy way of navigating that.
With this game unlikely to end up in an end-to-end thriller, and a more conservative build-up and possession-based tactical battle in store, we could see a lack of corners from pacy attacks down either side’s defence which often lead to corners being awarded as teams clear the ball.
Chelsea v Tottenham betting tips:
Tottenham and the Draw
Under 1.5 Goals
Half-Time: The Draw
Under 8.5 Corners
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