LONDON: Tottenham Hotspur made a losing start to life as Wembley´s full-time tenants after Marcos Alonso´s double earned Premier League champions Chelsea a 2-1 victory.
The Spaniard struck either side of a late Michy Batshuayi own goal to get Chelsea back to winning ways after their opening 3-2 loss at home to Burnley and end Spurs´ club-record run of 14 successive home wins.
Spurs went unbeaten throughout their final league campaign at White Hart Lane, but struggled at Wembley in the Champions League and have now lost eight of the last 10 matches they have played there.
Mauricio Pochettino´s men appeared to have avoided the worst when Batshuayi put through his own goal in the 82nd minute, only for Hugo Lloris´s feeble attempt at a save to gift Alonso the winner two minutes from time.
For Spurs, who are playing at Wembley while White Hart Lane is rebuilt, it was a first home defeat in the league since a 2-1 loss to Southampton in May 2016.
Having endured a deeply trying start to the season, Chelsea manager Antonio Conte will hope victory over the team his side pipped to the title last season will bring some much-needed positivity back to Stamford Bridge.
The Italian celebrated Alonso´s winner with characteristic abandon on the touchline, thoughts of his side´s transfer window struggles and his long stand-off with want-away striker Diego Costa seemingly banished.
Chelsea´s list of absentees — suspended pair Gary Cahill and Cesc Fabregas, injury victim Eden Hazard and the exiled Costa — moved Conte to adopt an unfamiliar 3-5-1-1 system, with David Luiz anchoring the midfield.
He also gave a debut to £40 million ($51.5 million, 43.8 million euros) new signing Tiemoue Bakayoko, who produced a leggy 90-minute showing in his first appearance since arriving from French champions Monaco.
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