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Spurs Odyssey Champions League Preview - Spurs v Monaco, 14.09.16

· Last season's Europa League game v Monaco (H) - Spurs won 4-1
· See the current injury list for all Premiership Teams
· All the Spurs Stats you could hope for here! THFC6061 Sports Stats


Spurs' record in Europe:-
The official crest of Tottenham Hotspur
 
U.E.F.A Champions League
 
 P   W   D   L   F - A
12   5   3   4  25 - 19
 
European Cup
P   W   D   L   F - A
8   4   1   3  21 - 13
 
(Semi-Finalists 1962)
 
European Cup Winners Cup
 
P   W   D   L   F - A
33  20  5   8  65 - 34
 
(Winners 1963)
 
UEFA Cup/Europa League
 P    W   D   L   F - A
138  78  35  25  274-118 
 
(Winners 1972, 1984
 Finalists 1974)
 The club logo of AS Monaco FC
Total
P    W   D   L   F - A
191 107 46  40  379-184

        

Monaco won't know what's hit them, will they?

At long last, Spurs' second Champions League campaign starts tomorrow, and the word is that Wembley has sold out, perhaps with the exception of the Monaco section. I wonder if Monaco have ever played in front of such a big crowd? Certainly their experience last season of facing big crowds was not positive. Last August they lost 3-1 in Valencia in front of a 45,000+ crowd. The Monegasque team won their home leg 2-1, but that wasn't enough to stop them slipping out of The Champions League and into the Europa League Group phase when they faced Tottenham Hotspur. In May this year Monaco lost 6-1 away to Lyon in front of a massive 56,000+ crowd at their new stadium.

Despite having played at Wembley on numerous previous occasions, Spurs have never had the benefit of such a large home support. That new 61,000 seater at White Hart Lane IS going to be filled in 2018, isn't it? The attendance figure tomorrow will be the largest ever for a Spurs home game, and probably also for any club game in the country. That's another first for Tottenham!

So, what have Monaco done since we beat them 4-1 at The Lane last December?

Leonardo Jardim's side were sixth when they last faced us, but had a successful end to their domestic campaign, finishing third. That gave them the right to join this year's Champions League in the third qualifying round. They beat Fenerbahce on aggregate (4-3) despite losing in Turkey 2-1. In the play-off round, Monaco beat Roberto Soldado's Villarreal 3-1 on aggregate, with wins away and at home.

The Monaco squad hasn't changed radically since we last met. Most of their transfer business seemed to consist of the promotion of players from their "B" team, which plays in the seventh level of French football. Radamel Falcao has returned from his less than celubrious loans at Man Utd and Chelsea. I well remember Falcao being withdrawn from a United under-21 game (they always use over-age players) at Old Trafford 18 months ago. Falcao did play in the tie against Fenerbahce and scored in both games (one a penalty), but his only other appearance since was as 65th minute substitute at Lille on Saturday.

26 year old Valere Germain has returned from a season on loan with Nice, and scored twice against Fenerbahce. Fabinho has scored four penalties since the start of the season, which makes five out of the club's first 17 goals in all games scored from the spot. There is a trend here that Spurs need to note. Monaco also still have their two Portuguese stars Moutinho and Bernardo Silva, both of whom played at White Hart Lane in December. Both have also scored in Monaco's early games.

Monaco have now played 4 league games, and are unbeaten - like Spurs. They do come to Wembley in the best of form, and top of their league with 10 points. Before the International break they beat PSG 3-1, and last Saturday they had an impressive 4-1 win at Lille. Sidibe got them off the mark in only the second minute. Traore, Fabinho (not from the spot!) and Glik scored their other goals. Full back Djibril Sidibe was a summer arrival from Lille, and he doesn't score many goals, so his old team would not have been pleased!

Adama Traore is also a former Lille player! Kamil Glik is a Polish International signed from Torino and scored his first goal for his new club. Glik was no doubt signed to replace 38 year old Ricardo Carvalho, whose contract was not renewed. Carvalho was still playing International football for Portugal in the euro 2016 tournament, playing 90 minutes in their three Group games. Note that another Traore (Lacina), who played against us at home and away last season, has been loaned to fellow Group E side CSKA for whom he scored two goals on Saturday.

The Spurs team news is as expected with Dembele available and Danny Rose still out with that hamstring injury sustained with England. Whether or not Dembele starts remains to be seen, but he will no doubt be amongst the 18-man final squad. Erik Lamela, who scored a hat-trick in December's 4-1 win, will surely start, which gives Pochettino a dilemma regarding top scorer Son Heung-min. We'll find out the manager's decisions tomorrow evening at about 6.45pm!

Personally, I cannot wait for tomorrow's game, and I hope for one of the best Tottenham atmospheres ever. That massive support can surely provide the impetus for Spurs to collect three precious points, and I am predicting a 3-1 home win!

Referee Gianluca Rocchi and his team are from Italy. Spurs have not encountered this referee (aged 43) before. Signor Rocchi does not appear to have been too busy in Italy over the last year, but he is used regularly for European club and International games. In March this year, he took charge of England's friendly in Germany, which England won 3-2 and when both Harry Kane and Eric Dier scored!

· Reviewing Spurs' last Champions League Season - 2010-11. On this date 6 years ago, we played our first Champions League game at Werder Bremen and drew 2-2.

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