Chelsea vs Tottenham Hotspur, The Battle For Europe: Open Thread

On a day when this game should be the biggest news, it’s a shame that Chelsea against Tottenham Hotspur been dwarfed by the news that Sir Alex Ferguson is retiring. Trust Fergie to pick a day to out-do Rafael Benitez.

This is a match where everything is on the line. A win for Chelsea will guarantee them a place in the UEFA Champions League next season. A win for Tottenham Hotspur, and they’ll leapfrog over Arsenal into fourth place.

Hopefully the match itself will be the main focus and won’t be a sideshow if and when David Moyes is spotted in the stands. This is a time to ensure that Chelsea-Spurs are the main priority instead of watching a Moyes-cam throughout the match for any hints in regards to his future.

Chelsea’s record against Tottenham at Stamford Bridge is spectacular. Chelsea are undefeated against Tottenham in their last 15 home matches in all competitions.

Chelsea starting XI: Cech, Azpilicueta, Cole, Ivanovic, Cahill, Luiz, Ramires, Oscar, Mata, Hazard, Torres

Tottenham starting XI: Lloris; Walker, Dawson, Vertonghen, Assou-Ekotto; Lennon, Huddlestone, Parker, Holtby; Adebayor, Bale

For readers in the United States, the match will be shown live on FOX Soccer. The kick-off is at 2:45pm ET.

Join the conversation with fellow football supporters from around the world in the comments section below before, during and after this match.