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Chelsea and Spurs go head to head, but who is best placed to grab a CL spot?

  /  autty

Totteham visit Chelsea on Saturday in a game that is set to have huge implications in the race for Champions League qualification.

The Blues currently sit fourth, one point ahead of their fifth-placed London rivals, but the likes Sheffield United and Manchester United are hot on their tails.

The fight to qualify for next season's tournament could well become a little easier with fifth potentially being enough, should Manchester City's European ban be upheld.

However, both London teams know they will have to finish the season strongly. Here, Sportsmail looks at which one is better equipped to secure a spot in Europe's premier competition next term.

Form

Spurs may have suffered a disappointing defeat to RB Leipzig on Wednesday night but their domestic form has certainly been headed in the right direction.

Jose Mourinho's men have won their last three league games, an impressive victory over reigning Champions Manchester City sandwiched in-between wins over Aston Villa and Norwich City.

They also got past Southampton in the FA Cup during that run while their last defeat outside Europe came at the hands of runaway leaders Liverpool six weeks ago.

Chelsea, meanwhile, have really hit a rough patch as of late, the team failing to win any of their last four league outings.

Frank Lampard's side were beaten 2-0 at home by top four rivals Man United last time out, that loss coming in the wake of draws to Leicester and Arsenal and a defeat away to Newcastle.

Who has the edge? Tottenham

Players

Tottenham will no doubt be feeling sorry for themselves, injuries to Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min leaving them without their two main goal threats.

Kane not expected to return to training from a hamstring injury until April while Son is likely to miss the rest of the season with a fractured arm.

That leaves Lucas Moura, Steven Bergwijn and Troy Parrott as the club's only recognised forwards, Mourinho admitting their current injury situation 'couldn't be worse'.

New signing Giovani Lo Celso is really beginning to make an impact, however, but out-of-form Dele Alli will have to step it up in the coming weeks.

Goals are also an issue for their opponents, Christian Pulisic sidelined through injury and Tammy Abraham failing to build on his promising start to the campaign.

A lack of signings over the past two transfer windows is beginning to show for the Blues, who have been lacking going forward since the departure of Eden Hazard.

The likes of Olivier Giroud and Michy Batshuayi have also offered little but the situation is more promising in midfield with Mateo Kovacic and Jorginho impressing alongside N'Golo Kante.

In terms of options you'd have to say Lampard has more at his disposal.

Who has the edge? Chelsea

Manager

Mourinho has worked a minor miracle by getting injury-ridden Spurs back into contention for the top four having succeeded Mauricio Pochettino with the club languishing in 14th, 11 points behind fourth place, back in November.

Unsurprisingly the Portuguese has been criticised for his 'negative' style of football but he has done about as well as could be expected of him in the absence of star man Kane, winning eight of his 14 league matches.

It has been the big games where his team have come undone, three of his four defeats coming to to United, Chelsea and Liverpool.

Lampard, on the other hand, is under increasing pressure at Stamford Bridge with some sections of the fanbase starting to seriously question if he is the right man for the job.

The club legend made a bright start, praised for his handling of the squad's young talent as he guided the team to a run of six straight league wins to leave the Blues second after 12 games.

However, his inexperience has begun to show as the season has gone on, a third defeat in a row to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer attracting particular scrutiny.

With Lampard in totally uncharted territory you'd have to give the upper hand to Mourinho, a manager who knows exactly what it takes to get the job done in this league.

Who has the edge? Totteham

Run-in

The Blues just about edge this one but both sides certainly have plenty of tough fixtures ahead of them.

Saturday's game starts a run of seven league contests that will feature six teams for in the running for a Champions League spot, Wolves, Burnley and United next up.

Overall they are readying themselves for eight games against the top 11 in their final stretch while Chelsea have six.

However, Lampard's side do still have to face both Liverpool and City again.

Who has the edge? Chelsea