Tottenham vs Chelsea: Strong XI Named for Sydney Derby
Tottenham’s pre-season journey across Australia and New Zealand ends with a London derby in an unfamiliar setting – the Accor Stadium in Sydney – and Roberto De Zerbi has named a side that underlines how seriously Spurs are treating their final outing down under.
They arrive at this clash unbeaten on tour. A controlled 2–0 win over Auckland FC set the tone, followed by a 1–1 draw and penalty shootout success against Sydney FC, where Spurs held their nerve to edge it 4–2 from the spot. Chelsea, for their part, have already shown their attacking teeth in Australia, coming through a wild 6–4 victory over Western Sydney.
Now comes something different: the first meeting between the two rivals staged outside England, with both clubs chasing a statement win to cap their time in Oceania.
De Zerbi balances fitness and edge
De Zerbi’s plans have not been without disruption. James Maddison, a central figure in Tottenham’s creative structure, misses out after the head coach revealed the midfielder sat out training with a minor injury. It is precaution rather than panic, but his absence still reshapes the look of Spurs’ midfield.
Mateus Fernandes is also not ready to start. The Portuguese midfielder, who missed the last game against Sydney, has again been held back as De Zerbi carefully manages workloads at the tail end of a long tour. He was not seen in training and remains one to monitor over the coming days.
There is better news elsewhere. A handful of senior players are back in the fold, with Jan Paul van Hecke stepping straight into the starting XI and Kevin Danso named among the substitutes, adding experience and physical presence to the defensive options.
Tottenham XI vs Chelsea
Here is how Tottenham line up against Chelsea at Accor Stadium:
Tottenham: Kinsky; Gray, Van Hecke, Davies, Robertson; Tonali, Bergvall, Solomon, Gallagher, Tel; Solanke.
Subs: Danso, Richarlison, Takai, Dubravka, Donley, Scarlett, Moore, Tyrese Hall, Russell-Denny, Melia, Kyerematen, Yang, Ajayi, Hardy, Williams-Barnett, Byrne, Tingey, Tye Hall.
It is a side that blends promise and pedigree. Van Hecke anchors a back line flanked by youth and experience, while the midfield mix of Tonali and Bergvall offers structure behind a lively attacking band featuring Solomon, Gallagher and Tel in support of Solanke.
The stakes are not competitive, but the contest will be anything but casual. Both clubs see this as the first blow landed in a season-long duel back home, even if the points are not on the table yet.
From Sydney back to business
When the final whistle blows in Sydney, Tottenham’s focus snaps back to north London and the final stretch of their pre-season build-up. The tour of Australia and New Zealand has delivered minutes, momentum and a clearer sense of De Zerbi’s early blueprint.
Next come three more friendlies before the Premier League returns in three weeks’ time. Spurs will face Getafe and meet Hoffenheim twice, fixtures designed to sharpen the edges of a squad still settling under new demands and new combinations.
Tonight, though, it is about a derby thousands of miles from home, a last test of rhythm and resilience before the real scrutiny begins.
