In 2016, Tottenham Hotspur saw their title charge ended after blowing a two goal lead to draw 2-2 against rivals Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

The match has since become infamous for the way in which Spurs self destructed after the interval, which they went into with a 2-0 lead courtesy of goals from Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son.

Therefore, when The Blues and The Lilywhites faced off again six years later in a clash that saw both managers end the game with red cards, fans began to draw comparisons between the iconic Premier League match which has since been dubbed 'The Battle of the Bridge'.

Here is my opinion piece on whether or not the game can be classed as the second Battle of the Bridge, several years on from the first showdown.

The context around the games

The context around the two games differs quite massively.

What has stayed the same, is that Tottenham traditionally struggle to win in West London, winning just once since the turn of the century, ironically when Conte led Chelsea in 2018.

However, the meaning behind the two games is very different.

Spurs found themselves mounting an unlikely title charge back in 2016, and the goals from Gary Cahill and Eden Hazard were enough to stop them from winning it, giving Leicester City a magical league win.

Embed from Getty Images

The Blues finished in 10th place that season, an uncharacteristically low finish, especially given their league win the previous campaign.

This time was different, Spurs and Chelsea went into the tie with a win in their first matches and with effectively a whole season ahead of them.

Expectations had been placed on the game, with knowledge that The Lilywhites are a better side than the one Chelsea tore apart four times last season. Those who put their faith in the game got the match they had hoped for.

The shifts of momentum

Most Spurs fans would have assumed you were joking if you had told them they would go behind twice against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and still find a 96th minute equaliser.

The 'Spursy' reputation that the North Londoners have carried in recent years of holding onto leads just to throw them away much like they did in 2016 is certainly one that Conte is trying to change.

Just two games into the new campaign, Tottenham have already picked up four points from losing positions.

Embed from Getty Images

On the flip side, Chelsea were in cruise control at half time and will wonder how they let the match slip away.

Dropping points on a last minute set piece will have infuriated Tuchel and makes for a big change in the way the fixture normally pans out.

The passion

Something that never changes between the two sides is the passion.

There is hatred between the two teams, which runs far deeper than some often expect given that Fulham and Arsenal are the two main derbies for the clubs on paper respectively.

In 2016 Chelsea managed to stop Spurs winning the title and they knocked them out of the FA Cup semi final in 2017, whilst Spurs were able to stop Chelsea from going on a record breaking winning run in the same year.

The two clubs have famously never got on.

That was why the game was dubbed the Battle of the Bridge in 2016, with some very ugly scenes both during an after the game.

Embed from Getty Images

Remarkably, despite setting a new record for yellow cards in a match, nobody was sent off that day.

That was the difference on Sunday, when both managers saw red after full time having clashed after Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg levelled the game up in the second half to make it 1-1.

The first clash saw the pair booked, and an altercation at full time saw the pair dismissed by referee Anthony Taylor. 

Embed from Getty Images

Was the match a second Battle of the Bridge?

It seems slightly odd to suggest that the match was the second round of a famous fixture that took place six years ago.

For context, Conte had not yet taken the job at Chelsea when the match took place, he has now managed Chelsea, left them, managed Inter Milan before leaving them for Tottenham.

They are entirely different teams fighting entirely different battles.

That said, there was a real derby atmosphere on the day which boiled over on the pitch during and after the game, which is something we do not see as often in modern football.

Whilst the game had shades of the 2016 classic, Sunday's clash was a fantastic match of its own, which deserves a place in Premier League history without the links to the previous match which, whilst it had finished with the same score line, had very different meanings for the clubs in 2016.

VAVEL Logo
About the author