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Spurs record in Europe:-
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
P w D L F - A
61 38 13 10 137- 42
(Winners 1972, 1984
Finalists 1974)
Total
P W D L F - A
102 62 19 21 223- 89
Spurs face formidable and in-form opponents in this Thursday's Second Round game at White Hart Lane. Club Brugge are third in Belgium's Division One, following their convincing 5-1 victory over Excelsior Mouscron. Both top scorers Jeanvion Yulu Matondo and former Villa striker Bosko Balaban scored goals, and former Spur Jonathan Blondel played for 75 minutes.
Blondel never settled at Spurs, and was disappointed not to get too much of a look-in under Glenn Hoddle's management. Stand-in David Pleat gave him an outing or two, and Blondel was very popular with the fans, but he didn't stay in England for long. Blondel seems to have established himself this season, with 8 appearances so far, matching his totals for Brugge in the last two seasons.
Brugge qualified for this season's UEFA Cup by virtue of their third place in the league table. Club Brugge were founded in 1891, and played in the European Cup Final of 1978, losing to Liverpool. They have won their League 13 times - the last in 2004-5, and have plenty of Belgian Cup wins to their name too. 39 year old Emilio Ferrera is the club coach, having taken over from Jan Ceulemans in April this year. Ferrera is a naturalised Belgian of Spanish descent, and has a long record of management in Belgium.
Club Captain for Brugge is 33 year old Sven Vermant, in his second spell at the club, after a period with Schalke. He has played a total of 281 games and scored 69 times for this club. Vermant is a Belgian International.
Balaban had no success at Villa Park, but injury restricted his opportunities. He has been a prolific scorer for Brugge with 28 league goals in 63 games, and 13 goals in European matches. Matondo is now a Belgian National, but originates from Congo. He will have relished his two goals on Friday night against his former club.
Brugge have lost just 2 of their 14 competititive games this season. Both of those were away League fixtures. They had to play a qualifying round in the UEFA Cup, but comfortably beat Lithuanian side Suduva (7-2 on aggregate), before edging past Ruzomberok of Slovakia. Balaban scored a solitary away goal, then hit a late equaliser in the home game to make it 2-1 to Club Brugge on aggregate. Brugge drew at home with Bayer Leverkusen two weeks ago in this second round mini-league. The scorer then was central defender Phillippe Clement, who also scored last Friday against Excelsior.
Brugge have failed to score only twice so far this season, whereas Spurs have fired blanks in 6 of their 14 games. The Club Brugge website described Spurs performance on Saturday as below par, and the Belgians naturally feel confident after their 5-1 win.
The Spurs team selection will be a mystery to some degree, with an important Premiership game against Chelsea on Sunday. However, Martin Jol quite rightly is prioritising progress beyond this round of the UEFA Cup, and must still field a strong team tomorrow night. Didier Zokora is apparently fit again, but perhaps he will wait till Sunday's game to return, with Tom Huddlestone now blooded in Europe and able to deputise more than adequately. Malbranque is still two weeks away from his debut, surely, and Lee, Stalteri and Tainio miss out this week.
A win for Spurs would almost ensure qualification to the next phase, but it will not be easy. Hopefully, the ground will be almost full (non season ticket holders have had to stump up Category A prices) and the crowd can urge their team on to a famous victory. If we do win, I fancy it will be by the odd goal, and I'll go for a 2-1.
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