Eliminated from the Champions League by AC Milan this week (0-1, 0-0), Tottenham remains in a position to return there next season. The Spurs took place this Saturday afternoon against Nottingham Forest (3-1), and regained a 6-point lead over Liverpool, beaten a little earlier in Bournemouth. They also have 7 on Newcastle (6th), which however has three games less, the first this Sunday against Wolverhampton.
Facing Keylor Navas and his teammates, the players of a weakened Antonio Conte relied as often on Harry Kane, who scored with a header from a cross from Pedro Porro (19th) then on a full-axis converted penalty and obtained by Richarlison (35th).
The Brazilian, who was angry after the elimination in C1 because he did not play enough for his taste, was established and he was very good. He could even have opened the scoring with a powerful strike from the right side, but his goal was disallowed for a very slight offside. And he ended up being a passer for Son on the third (62nd). Forest reduced the gap following a corner on which Forster, Lloris’ replacement, got a hole. The goalkeeper, however, released a penalty from André Ayew in added time (90th + 5).
Unless they win the competition in June, Chelsea will find it very difficult to see the Champions League again next year, with their 11 points behind fourth place (and one game less). But there is still something better for the Blues, who won their third game in a row this Saturday in Leicester, in all competitions. This hadn’t happened to them since October. They also ended a ten-match unsuccessful away streak.
The London goals were scored by Chilwell (11th) and Kai Havertz (45th + 6), already the author of a huge match against Dortmund a few days earlier in C1 (2-0), and Kovacic (78th). On the second, the German international lobbed Ward with a volley, on a splendid ladle from Enzo Fernandez. Ex-Remois Wout Faes was sent off for two warnings.
At the bottom of the table, Amadou Onana’s Everton beat Brentford (1-0) and came out of the relegation zone.
