Tottenham's Experimental XI Faces Chelsea in Sydney Derby
Tottenham’s pre-season tour of Australia and New Zealand ends with a twist of London needle, half a world away from home.
Under the lights at Accor Stadium, Spurs face Chelsea in what is billed as the first-ever derby between the clubs played outside England. The stakes are friendly, but the selection from Roberto De Zerbi is anything but casual.
De Zerbi juggles fitness and rhythm
Tottenham arrive in Sydney unbeaten on tour. They opened with a controlled 2–0 win over Auckland FC, then edged Sydney FC on penalties after a 1–1 draw in regular time. The performances have been about conditioning and chemistry as much as results, but an all‑Premier League clash changes the tone of the evening.
De Zerbi’s plans have been nudged by fitness concerns. James Maddison, a central figure in Spurs’ creative structure, was absent from training in the build-up and sits this one out with a minor injury. It’s precaution rather than panic, but his omission forces a different look in midfield and attack.
Mateus Fernandes also remains short of full fitness. The Portuguese midfielder missed the last outing against Sydney and was again not spotted in training, so De Zerbi keeps him out of the starting XI as he manages workloads carefully at the end of a long trip.
The upside for Spurs is the return of senior options. Jan Paul van Hecke comes straight into the side, a notable presence in the back line, while Kevin Danso is named among the substitutes, adding experience to a youthful bench.
Spurs XI to face Chelsea
Tottenham line up with Kinsky in goal, behind a back four of Gray, Van Hecke, Davies and Robertson.
In midfield, Tonali anchors alongside Bergvall, with Solomon and Gallagher offering width and energy. Tel supports Solanke, who leads the line and will be tasked with stretching a Chelsea defence that has already been tested in Australia.
Starting XI: Tottenham: Kinsky; Gray, Van Hecke, Davies, Robertson; Tonali, Bergvall, Solomon, Gallagher, Tel; Solanke.
Bench: Danso, Richarlison, Takai, Dubravka, Donley, Scarlett, Moore, Tyrese Hall, Russell-Denny, Melia, Kyerematen, Yang, Ajayi, Hardy, Williams-Barnett, Byrne, Tingey, Tye Hall.
It’s a blend of established names, recent additions and emerging talent, a typical pre-season mix but against a rival that tends to expose any looseness. For some of the younger players, this is as close as it gets to a dress rehearsal under genuine scrutiny.
Chelsea test before the real thing
Chelsea arrive with attacking confidence after a wild 6–4 win over Western Sydney in their own opening game on Australian soil. That scoreline underlines both their threat and their vulnerability, and offers Spurs a sharp final examination before they leave Oceania.
For De Zerbi, this is the last live run before Tottenham fly back to north London and shift into the next phase of preparation. Three more friendlies await: a meeting with Getafe and a double-header against Hoffenheim, all designed to fine-tune systems and settle selection questions with the Premier League season now only three weeks away.
The tour has delivered minutes, momentum and an unbeaten record. Now comes a derby on foreign ground that will ask a more serious question: how close are Spurs to being truly ready when the real campaign begins?
