It was written in the stars for true Tottenham fans—or so we thought. Like a classic video game boss battle, we knew we'd have to defeat the final opponent to move forward. We hoped that three points against Leeds would make this trip to Chelsea meaningless, but Mathys Tel's untimely acrobatics changed everything. Now, we need something from Stamford Bridge.

The Tottenham-Chelsea rivalry is unlike any other in London. It all started with the "Cockney Cup Final" in 1967, the first all-London FA Cup final, which marked the beginning of a fierce modern rivalry. As hooliganism and culture wars swept through football in the 1970s and 1980s, both fanbases grew to truly despise each other, with Spurs establishing themselves as the dominant side during those years.

But the balance of power shifted to blue when Roman Abramovich arrived. Despite Chelsea's rise to the top of English and European football, the hatred between the two sets of fans never softened. No matter how successful Chelsea became, beating Tottenham still mattered. The Premier League archives are filled with classic encounters—wonder goals, reckless two-footed lunges, and unforgettable drama.

We've seen running battles, countless red cards, 4-4 draws, ghost goals in semi-finals, and League Cup final victories for both sides. And who could forget Chelsea winning the Champions League in 2012, denying Spurs a spot in the competition? Yet, if you asked any Chelsea fan where relegating Tottenham would rank, it would probably top the list.

Thankfully, Roberto de Zerbi's remarkable work in recent weeks has denied Chelsea the chance to send Spurs down themselves. But if West Ham beats Newcastle, they can still push Tottenham's head deeper into the mud. History is not on Spurs' side: in 32 Premier League visits to Stamford Bridge, we have won just once and drawn eleven times.

This season, perhaps more than any since the "Battle of the Bridge" in 2016, Chelsea will be desperate to beat us. Tottenham will need to play the perfect game and rely heavily on their away form—the only thing currently keeping their heads above water.