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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
97 55 25 17 198-77
(Winners 1972, 1984
Finalists 1974)
Total
P W D L F - A
150 84 34 32 309-143
Europa League Group J Table (after 3 games)
Pos P W D L F-A GD Pts
1. Lazio 3 1 2 0 2-1 1 5
2. Maribor 3 1 1 1 4-2 2 4
3. Spurs 3 0 3 0 2-2 0 3
4. Panathinaikos 3 0 2 1 2-5 -3 2
Results to date:-
Maribor 3-0 Panathinaikos
Spurs 0-0 Lazio
Panathinaikos 1-1 Spurs
Lazio 1-0 Maribor
Maribor 1-1 Spurs
Panathinaikos 1-1 Lazio
It's a must win game, surely
Technically, Andre Villas-Boas is correct when he says that defeat tonight would not be the end of our qualification chances, but surely, this home game against Slovenian Champions Maribor is a must-win game for Spurs!
Despite our considerable deficiencies due to injury (Sandro, Dembele, Parker, Assou-Ekotto, Kaboul) and the need to have half an eye towards Sunday's game at The Etihad, AVB has announced a strong squad and will field as strong a team as he can. That team will include Hugo Lloris in goal, and is likely to feature Adebayor in the starting line-up for the first time this season.
Despite the Sunday game, I really feel that Gareth Bale needs to at least start this game and give the Maribor defence a test they did not face on home soil when he was on paternity leave. On that occasion, Andros Townsend did not impress, but his half-time replacement Yago Falque had an excellent second-half, and could play a part in tonight's game. We also missed Michael Dawson through illness on that occasion, but he will be available whilst William Gallas will probably start on the bench.
A win for Spurs will assert our claim for qualification, and whatever happens in the other group game in Rome tonight, we would go to play Lazio with a chance of taking that precious leader's spot. With one team from Man City's Champions League "Group of Death" to join the Europa League in the New Year, I would not fancy a tie against (for example) Ajax Amsterdam. Other third placed Champions League teams will be available, of course.
Maribor's form has not been great since our game. They had a league game postponed (due to snow), then played a cup game against second tier opposition, which they won. Like Spurs, on Saturday, they played a home league game, and lost. The result was 2-1, and Maribor's goal came from a Mezga penalty. The Maribor crowd was only 1500 for this game, so the atmosphere must have been flat.
That might not be the case tonight, if a decent number of away fans make it to White Hart Lane, either from Slovenia, or from the suburbs of multi-cultural London. If they manage to smuggle their massive banner into the stadium, you'll love that! It is still on my phone's wallpaper.
Maribor will surely play in the same style as at home, with a formation resembling 4-3-3 when they go forward, and go forward they will. Bale could be the key to Spurs' success. I'd start him, hopefully gain a commanding lead, then let him rest up for Sunday!
Who will partner Tom Huddlestone in front of the defence? Probably Tom Carroll. Maybe there will be a role for Dean Parrett, an often forgotten Spurs player, but one who does have European experience. Parrett is in the squad.
Despite our performance on Saturday, I have to back Spurs wo win this one. There will be a full house, and hopefully a good atmosphere with the crowd acting as twelfth man to urge the team to a 3-1 win!
· Read the preview for the away game against Maribor here
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