Tottenham 0-1 Chelsea Player Ratings: João Pedro Rated 8.5/10 as His Goal Secures Narrow 1-0 Victory

Enzo Maresca would have been thinking about the last three matches that he lost in the last five, as if those results were in favor of the manager Enzo Maresca, then including today’s win, Chelsea would’ve been at the top of the table. While looking at the stats, it may seem that the hosts had equal chances, but in reality, Chelsea were the team who set the tempo of the game and had control for the majority of it. However, they didn’t capitalize on their dominance, and the strike from Joao Pedro became the difference-maker.

The game's only goal came from Joao Pedro, who capitalized on a costly error in the Spurs' defense. From where we were sitting, it felt like a match that would be settled by a mistake, and so it proved. Tottenham Hotspur's captain, Micky van de Ven, had a moment he'll want to forget, leading directly to the goal. Despite the home side's efforts, they found a resolute Chelsea backline impossible to breach.

What stood out to us was the performance of Spurs' goalkeeper, Guglielmo Vicario. He made a remarkable seven saves, six from inside the box, which tells you everything you need to know about the pressure Spurs were under. Without him, the scoreline could have been much more comfortable for the visitors. It was a contest of fine margins, a real chess match where Chelsea's defensive solidity and clinical edge won the day.

Here are Tottenham Vs Chelsea Player Ratings

Tottenham Player Ratings vs Chelsea

Here are Tottenham Player Ratings vs Chelsea

Goalkeeper

Guglielmo Vicario - 8.0: Simply outstanding. The only reason Spurs were in this game for so long. He made seven saves, several of them top-class, and showed immense bravery and command of his area. It was a frustrating day for him, being let down by a defensive error for the goal. From our perspective, he was the highest-rated player on the pitch, a truly brilliant performance in a losing effort.

Defenders

Pedro Porro - 5.5: A really tough outing for the wing-back. We noticed he lost possession a staggering 23 times, which just isn't good enough at this level. His final ball was lacking and he made an error that led to a shot. He tried to get forward but his end product was poor and he was a liability at times. He was substituted after 73 minutes, and it was no surprise.

Kevin Danso - 6.0: An okay performance, but nothing more. He was solid enough for the most part but didn't look entirely comfortable against Chelsea's attackers. Winning just four of his ten duels tells a story of a difficult evening. He was hooked after an hour, which suggests the manager wasn't happy.

Micky van de Ven - 4.5: A day to forget for the captain. His dreadful error led directly to the only goal of the game, a moment that completely defined the result. Before that, he looked relatively composed, but such a high-profile mistake in a tight game is unforgivable. It’s a harsh rating, but the captain has to take responsibility for a game-losing moment.

Djed Spence - 6.0: A mixed bag. He worked hard down the left flank and won a decent number of his duels. However, he also lost possession 18 times and his attacking contribution was minimal. He showed flashes of what he can do, but it was an inconsistent display that ultimately lacked quality.

Midfielders

João Palhinha - 6.5: The usual industrious performance we expect from him. He won all three of his attempted tackles and was a disruptive presence in midfield. He kept the ball moving but lacked that bit of creative spark needed to unlock the Chelsea defence. A solid, if unspectacular, performance.

Pape Matar Sarr - 7.0: One of Tottenham's brighter sparks. He was full of energy, made six clearances, and even created two chances for his teammates. What stood out to us was his desire to get on the ball and drive the team forward. He never stopped trying and looked like one of the few who might make something happen.

Rodrigo Bentancur - 6.0: A quiet hour from the Uruguayan. He won a good number of duels and looked tidy in possession but had little impact on the game in an attacking sense. He picked up a yellow card and was substituted, probably to inject more creativity into the side. A decent but forgettable showing.

Mohammed Kudus - 6.5: He looked lively and was always trying to be positive on the ball. He registered three shots and had some successful dribbles, causing a few problems. However, his final product was missing. We felt he was on the verge of creating something special, but it never quite came off for him.

Forwards

Randal Kolo Muani - 5.5: A very disappointing performance from the striker. He was completely isolated and had only 17 touches in 73 minutes of football. For a player of his quality, that's simply not enough involvement. He worked hard off the ball but was a non-factor in attack, which was a huge problem for Spurs.

Substitutes

Lucas Bergvall - N/A: Came on for the final few minutes. He barely had a touch of the ball, not enough time to make any sort of impact.

Manager

T. Frank - 5.5: His team looked defensively vulnerable and toothless in attack. The decision to start this lineup didn't pay off, and they were second best for large parts of the game. He reacted by making changes, but his team couldn't find a way back into the match. A frustrating day where his tactics were outdone by his opposite number.

Chelsea Player Ratings vs Tottenham

Here are Chelsea Player Ratings vs Tottenham

Goalkeeper

Robert Sánchez - 7.0: Had a surprisingly quiet afternoon, with only one save to make. What impressed us, though, was his command of the penalty area, coming for five high claims with confidence. He did everything asked of him with minimal fuss, providing a calm presence behind the backline. A clean sheet is a clean sheet.

Defenders

Malo Gusto - 7.5: A fantastic performance at right-back. He was solid defensively, winning most of his duels and making key interceptions. Going forward, he was a real threat, creating two big chances for his teammates. An all-action display that showed his quality at both ends of the pitch.

Wesley Fofana - 8.0: An absolute monster at the back. He won a remarkable nine out of twelve duels, including six aerial battles. He read the game superbly, making crucial clearances and interceptions. From our perspective, he was completely dominant and gave Kolo Muani absolutely nothing to work with. A colossal performance.

Trevoh Chalobah - 7.0: The perfect partner for Fofana. He was no-nonsense in his defending, racking up nine clearances. He wasn't flashy, but he was incredibly effective, mopping up danger and ensuring Spurs had no clear path to goal. A very solid and disciplined performance.

Marc Cucurella - 7.0: Another strong link in Chelsea's defensive chain. He was energetic, tough in the tackle, and used the ball intelligently. He won two-thirds of his duels and made sure the Spurs right-wing was kept quiet. He is really finding his form and this was another display of his defensive quality.

Midfielders

Moisés Caicedo - 8.0: A complete midfield performance that was central to Chelsea's win. He provided the crucial assist for the goal with a clever pass. Defensively, he was a machine, with four interceptions and two tackles won. He controlled the tempo of the game and showcased why he is so highly rated. A Man of the Match contender.

Enzo Fernández - 7.0: The creative hub of the team. He created three chances and was always looking for that killer pass. However, he'll be disappointed to have missed a big chance himself, which could have made the win more comfortable. A great creative outlet, but his finishing needs to be a bit sharper.

Reece James - 7.5: A true captain's display. He was a constant presence down the right, contributing defensively with eight ball recoveries and three tackles. He also created a big chance and was a leader on the pitch, driving his team forward. A really strong, all-around game from the skipper.

Alejandro Garnacho - 7.5: Deployed in a different role, he was incredibly effective in his 66 minutes. He was a livewire, creating a big chance and winning all of his tackles. His directness caused Spurs problems, and it was a surprise to see him taken off. A very bright and impactful performance.

Pedro Neto - 6.5: A frustrating player to watch today. He looked dangerous and got into good positions, registering three shots. But he was also incredibly wasteful, losing possession 18 times. He has the talent to decide games, but his decision-making let him down on this occasion.

Forwards

João Pedro - 8.5: The match-winner. He was in the right place at the right time to score the decisive goal. He was a constant menace, getting off four shots on target. We have to dock a point, though, for the two big chances he missed. He got the vital goal, but on another day, he could have walked away with the match ball.

Manager

E. Maresca - 8.0: A tactical masterclass from the Chelsea boss. His team was set up perfectly for a tough away fixture. They were defensively impenetrable and clinical enough to take the one big chance that fell their way. He got his game plan spot on and his players executed it brilliantly. A fantastic result and performance.

Sportsdunia's player of the match is Joao Pedro