Tottenham Hotspur will visit Craven Cottage on Sunday, March 16, 2025, to face Fulham in what promises to be an exciting London derby. Both teams find themselves at pivotal points in their respective Premier League campaigns and are desperate for points as the season heads toward its climax.
Fulham, currently positioned 10th with aspirations of European football, needs to bounce back after suffering a setback last weekend. Despite taking the lead with Raúl Jiménez's stunning strike, they conceded two late goals to lose 2-1 against Brighton, with the decisive goal coming from the penalty spot deep in injury time. This defeat is particularly disappointing for the Cottagers, who had hoped to solidify their position within the top half of the table and qualify for European competition for the first time since 2011. Sitting just three points adrift of the final European qualifying spot occupied by Aston Villa, every point counts as they aim to reclaim momentum.
On the other hand, Tottenham Hotspur enters the game following mixed fortunes. They salvaged a draw against Bournemouth last weekend after trailing 2-0, thanks to goals from Pape Matar Sarr and Son Heung-min. More encouragingly, Spurs recently progressed to the quarter-finals of the Europa League, edging past AZ Alkmaar with a 3-2 aggregate victory on March 13. Their focus is now divided, as they juggle league performance with European aspirations. Currently, Tottenham languishes at 13th place, eight points behind Fulham. With only three wins across their last 12 league matches, they are firmly entrenched in the bottom half, making this fixture even more significant for their ambitions.
For this match, Fulham will be missing key players due to injury and suspension. Midfielder Sasa Lukić is serving the second leg of a two-match ban, adding to worries since Reiss Nelson, Kenny Tete, and Harry Wilson are also sidelined. Marco Silva's options are limited, but he may shift to a back three to secure defensive stability, with Jiménez leading the attack.
Tottenham has its challenges as well, with Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven finally returning to the pitch together but grappling with the congested schedule following European commitments. Ben Davies is expected to bolster the squad after his return from injury. They will, nonetheless, miss Dejan Kulusevski, Richarlison, and Radu Drăgușin, which could force manager Ange Postecoglou to utilize squad rotation carefully to prevent fatigue.
Historically, the matchup tends to swing back and forth—Fulham has shown resilience recently by winning their last two home meetings with Tottenham, seeking to achieve three consecutive home victories over Spurs for the first time since 2006. Before this run, Fulham endured 14 defeats across 16 prior meetings, boasting just two wins and one draw. The stakes are high for both clubs, making the matchup even more interesting. The last time they met at Craven Cottage, Fulham triumphed with a resounding 3-0 victory, and they now hope to replicate their success this time.
Kick-off is set for 1:30 PM GMT, but fans will not be able to watch the game live on UK television. Nevertheless, highlights can be accessed later through free broadcasts, including BBC's 'Match of the Day 2'.
The predicted lineups suggest Fulham will adopt their habitual 3-4-2-1 formation, with Bernd Leno as the goalkeeper, assisted by defenders Issa Diop, Joachim Andersen, and Calvin Bassey who cover the back line. The midfield will feature Sander Berge and Andreas Pereira, with Smith Rowe and Alex Iwobi supporting Jiménez up front.
For Tottenham, Projected formations lean toward 4-3-3, showcasing Guglielmo Vicario as the last line of defense. The defensive unit is likely to see Pedro Porro, Romero, Davies, and Destiny Udogie, supported by Rodrigo Bentancur, Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, and James Maddison centrally. Wilson Odobert, fresh from scoring two goals against AZ Alkmaar, will likely aid Solanke and Son up front. With Tottenham’s recent resurgence, they will aim for back-to-back league victories.
Predictions for the game are polarized, with analysts divided on potential outcomes. Given recent form and the squad's current dynamics, Fulham fans retain confidence, hoping for victory on home turf. Yet, Spurs, invigorated by their European performance, will present a formidable challenge. The prediction leans toward Fulham edging the contest, with many forecasting a 2-1 victory for the hosts, but anything can happen as two London rivals clash.
Both teams will require points and inspiration as they head closer to the season's climax, ensuring each side will come ready to capitalize on even the slightest mistake from their opponents.