Tottenham Hotspur vs APOEL Nicosia
Kick-off: December 6, 19:45 Venue: Wembley Stadium
The Champions League has provided fleeting moments of joy in what has been a tough few weeks for Tottenham Hotspur. They’ll be looking to continue that trend against APOEL Nicosia, albeit with little but pride riding on the game.
Spurs’ recent win away to Borussia Dortmund means that regardless of the results this coming midweek, they will top Group H and earn themselves a last-16 draw against a side who finished second elsewhere.
It should, therefore, be an excellent opportunity to rest players. There has been a fatigue about the Lilywhites in recent games, a sense of something not quite clicking between Dele Alli, Christian Eriksen, and Harry Kane. The two-time Golden Boot winner was the difference in the corresponding fixture at APOEL’s GSP stadium, but the hat-trick hero surely isn’t going to feature in a match of so little importance given the amount he’s having to play.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side have now won just one game in five in all competitions. If anything, the problem – we’ll refrain from using the word crisis – has dated back a little further than that, as they weren’t convincing against Crystal Palace either.
Perhaps another European night will represent a welcome distraction.
Team news
Alli will feature in the dead rubber tie, but it would be a surprise to see many other first teamers in action. For the upcoming Christmas fixtures, the big question is how Pochettino will cope without both Toby Alderweireld and the suspended Davinson Sanchez, who was sent off in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Watford. That ban only applies to domestic football, however, so the Colombian is set to play. Victor Wanyama remains in the treatment room.
There is increasing clamour among the supporters to see Marcus Edwards. Quite possibly the most highly-rated of the current academy group – and a midfielder who Pochettino once compared to Lionel Messi (which he now regrets, obviously) – the 19-year-old made his debut last season against Gillingham in the EFL Cup. Why hasn’t he pushed on? In his press conference, his manager suggested he is still not at the level he was expecting of him. Instead, Luke Amos and Kazaiah Sterling will at least be named on the bench.
Erik Lamela was not registered for the group stage of the Champions League.
Expected line-ups
Tottenham: Vorm, Aurier, Foyth, Sanchez, Walker-Peters, Sissoko, Winks, N’Koudou, Alli, Son, Llorente
APOEL: Perez, Vouros, Rueda, da Cruz Junior, Lago, Morais Barbosa, Oliveira Franco, Zahid, Sallai, Aloneftis, Pote
Did you know?
Tottenham have scored three goals against each of their Champions League opponents this season, beating Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund 3-1 at Wembley, and APOEL 3-0.
On the surface, Spurs may have little in common with their Cypriot opponents, but they did share a player back in the 1970s and 80s. Striker Ian Moores played for both and remains a legend in Nicosia, whom he helped to the title in 1986. Their fans paid tribute to him with a banner ahead of their game against Spurs in September.
Prediction:
Several Tottenham players can use this as a chance to stake their claim for a regular spot in the first team. All eyes will be on Foyth in particular, as he may well be required to make the step up in the coming weeks to cover for Sanchez. Llorente is under similar scrutiny, as he is yet to score since his summer move from Swansea. Even an under-strength Spurs should put in a respectable performance.
Tottenham 2-0 APOEL
