Tottenham Hotspur are set to face Chelsea in the Sydney Super Cup, a pre-season encounter that promises to be an exciting clash between two London rivals. The match will take place in Australia, where both teams have been competing in friendly matches against local opposition. Chelsea defender Josh Acheampong has sent a strong message to Tottenham Hotspur ahead of the clash, emphasizing the importance of beating their London rivals.
What happened?
Acheampong spoke to Chelsea's in-house media team about the upcoming match, explaining that he feels a special connection to beating Tottenham Hotspur. He stated, "That experience of my debut all went quite quickly, to be honest. I didn't really expect it, but it's kind of like the start of my journey. So every time I play Tottenham, I feel like it just holds a special place in my heart – and it's always nice to beat them! When it's that fixture, there are no friendlies. So it’ll be good."
Why it matters for Tottenham Hotspur
The Sydney Super Cup clash is a significant match for Tottenham Hotspur, who are looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2025-26 season. Despite winning silverware in 2024-25, the team struggled to find consistency and finished in 18th place in the Premier League, with 30 points from 32 games. They are currently 40 points behind leaders Arsenal in the title race.
What comes next?
The match against Chelsea will be a crucial test for Tottenham Hotspur, who will be looking to prove their mettle against a strong opponent. With both teams having struggled in the 2025-26 season, this clash promises to be an exciting and competitive encounter. The match will take place in Australia, where both teams have been competing in friendly matches against local opposition.
Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has named a near-full strength XI for the match, including Joao Pedro, Jamie Gittens, Cole Palmer, and Estevao. The team will be looking to claim a second win in the space of a week in Australia, having defeated Western Sydney Wanderers earlier in the week.
Tottenham Hotspur, on the other hand, needed a penalty shootout to overcome Sydney FC in their other Sydney Super Cup game. The team will be looking to bounce back from their disappointing 2025-26 season and prove their mettle against a strong opponent.
League standing (final 2025 table -- new season not yet under way): 18th in Premier League, 30 pts, 7W-9D-16L from 32 games, recent form LLDLL. Goals this season: 40 scored, 51 conceded (-11 goal difference).
