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Spurs record in Europe:-
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
100 57 26 17 204-79
(Winners 1972, 1984
Finalists 1974)
Total
P W D L F - A
153 86 35 32 315-145
A real French team is coming this time!
Having played "Les Geordies" last Saturday, we resume our Europa League campaign with a tough match against a genuine French team, Olympique Lyonnaise, or Lyon for short. Spurs have the disadvantage of playing the home leg first, and the two teams are battling for the right to play either Inter or Cluj in the "Round of 16".
We must deal with one game at a time of course, but the prospect of another trip to the San Siro and another chance for Gareth Bale to show off his best skills against Inter would be enthralling.
Lyon are currently second in Ligue 1, six points behind Paris St. Germain. Lyon were formerly managed by the well known Gerard Houllier, but their current leader is a former Arsenal player Remi Garde. Garde was a never a major player for Arsenal, totalling 31 league games between 1996/7 and 1998/9, at the end of his playing career.
Lyon did lead Ligue 1 for several weeks between November and December, and again for one week in mid-January, but their form has dipped somewhat, having suffered consecutive league defeats in their last two games for the first time since November 2011. Lyon also suffered the ignominy of being knocked out of the "Coupe de France" by Epinal, a team in the relegation zone of the third tier of French football. The match was played at Epinal, and drawn 3-3, with Lyon losing out by penalties. Epinal suffered the same fate after a 1-1 draw in the next round against Nantes. Lyon were the Cup holders to add to the embarrassment.
Olympique Lyonnais was established in the early 20th Century, but first played National League football in 1950. They have truly become one of the top French teams in the 21st Century, winning their league no less than 7 times, and making it as far as The Champions League semi-final three years ago.
We have met Lyon in European Competition before. In November and December of 1967, we played them in the second round of the Cup-Winners' Cup, having won the domestic trophy that year against Chelsea. We played away first and lost 1-0, before beating them 4-3 at home, but of course, suffering defeat on the away goals rule. Significantly, Spurs were missing stalwart centre-back Mike England during this spell, and also suffered a dip in their domestic form, failing to win their first 6 games without "Big Mike".
Our team for the away leg was Jennings, Kinnear, Knowles, Greaves, Hoy, Mackay, Mullery, Robertson, Venables, Gilzean, Jones, and at home it was Jennings, Kinnear, Knowles, Bond, Greaves, Hoy, Mackay, Robertson, Venables, Gilzean, Jones. Our goal scorers were Jimmy Greaves (2 - 1 pen), Alan Gilzean and Cliff Jones.
In 2005, we met Lyon in Seoul in the Peace Cup Final. (a href="../0506/ly240705.html"target="_blank">Lyon 1 Spurs 3 - 24.07.2005) Ledley King got to lift a trophy for the first time, and Robbie Keane scored two goals. Lyon's side included Michael Essien, before his move to Chelsea, Mahamadou Diarra, who subsequently played for Real Madrid and is now at Fulham, and Florent Malouda, now on the peripherary at Chelsea.
Hugo Lloris arrived at Tottenham from Lyon of course, and with no domestic game to play at the week-end, he could be preferred to Brad Friedel and play against his old team. In the Lyon squad is Steed Malbranque, who was very popular at Spurs and will get a great ovation, if selected. Midfielder Arnold Mvuemba was at Portsmouth with Younes Kaboul and Jermain Defoe, but played very few games. He has hardly figured for Lyon this season.
The danger men for Lyon must be top scorers Bafetimbi Gomis (16 goals) and Argentinean Lisandro Lopez (10 goals).
Lyon topped their group convincingly with Sparta Prague also going through, and last year's losing finalists Atletic Bilbao failing to qualify. Like Spurs Lyon are unbeaten so far in their 6 group games played.
Spurs ideally need to gain a decent lead before travelling to France next week. I suspect that Vertonghen and Assou-Ekotto were rested last Saturday, partly due to their mid-week exertions for their countries, but also in preparation for this match. We know that AVB likes to field a strong team, and there is absolutely no reason why he should not play the best eleven available players tomorrow night.
I'll go for us to gain a 2-0 win tomorrow and to hold onto that advantage next week.
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