Palmer and Tonali lead Spurs to outshine Chelsea’s shaky defence

Tonight’s "Battle of the Bridge" will see Tottenham travel to London rivals Chelsea for a Saturday night grudge match, and SofaScore have compiled a combined XI featuring in‑form Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro and a World Cup‑finalist who earned the nickname "villain".

Battle of the Bridge set for Saturday

The clash is scheduled for Saturday evening at Stamford Bridge, with both clubs boasting a combined squad value of roughly £1.6 billion. 24 October 2026 marks the publication of the preview, and SofaScore have given the fixture an overall rating of 6.49/10.

Goalkeeper and defensive picks

Antonin Kinsky is handed the goalkeeper’s jersey despite a disastrous Champions League debut that saw him substituted after 17 minutes following two errors. Since then he has become Tottenham’s No 1, keeping only two clean sheets this season, while Emi Martinez remains sidelined after a head injury at Everton and Mike Penders is still under assessment.

In defence, Chelsea’s French centre‑back Wesley Fofana earns a place, even though the Blues have conceded six goals in the three matches he started and 13 goals overall in the Premier League – a record Xabi Alonso will be eager to improve. Tottenham’s Jan Paul van Hecke, who moved from Brighton in the summer, and his Dutch teammate Micky van de Ven, who has logged 466 minutes in the league, also feature, while Jorrel Hato steps in after injuries to Andy Robertson and Destiny Udogie.

Chelsea - Tottenham at Stamford Bridge, live on Canal+ Foot

Attack and midfield selections

Cole Palmer, who has logged over 600 minutes this term, returns with two goals and three assists, while Joao Pedro also makes the cut as one of the Spurs’ attacking options. £100 million summer signing Sandro Tonali has appeared seven times and contributed an assist, and Argentine World Cup finalist Valentin Barco – signed on a contract to 2033 – adds a goal and an assist from his three Premier League and two EFL Cup outings, including a 6‑3 cup win over Leeds.

Former Aston Villa star Rogers, whose £117 million move set a British record, completes the XI, reflecting the high‑profile spending that has characterised both clubs this summer.

Tottenham finally broke their sluggish start with a win against Coventry on Monday night, while Xabi Alonso’s high‑flying Blues secured a gritty 2‑0 victory at Everton last Saturday – an opponent they have historically struggled to beat away.

The combined XI aims to set the tone for the Saturday night encounter, with both sides hoping their selected eleven can turn early-season woes into a decisive advantage.