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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
117  68  29  20  240-96 
 
(Winners 1972, 1984
 Finalists 1974)
 
Total
P    W   D   L   F - A
170 97  38  35  349-162

Chances low for injury-stricken Spurs

A much weakened Spurs squad has travelled to Lisbon with little chance of overhauling the two goal deficit incurred last week at White Hart Lane. Jan Vertonghen's suspension following his booking last week (his third in the Europa League this season), coupled with doubts about the fitness of Kaboul, Walker and Adebayor add to the mountainous task before the London team.

Sandro has also been booked three times in this season's Europa League campaign, but as the first of those was in the fourth qualifying play-off game, he does not yet suffer suspension. What all this does mean is that Sandro might be drafted in as an emergency central defender.

Spurs are in their worst form for a long time, having lost their last three games, and five of their last seven games, whilst Benfica are in marvellous form, winning their tenth consecutive game last Sunday, 4-2 away to Nacional. Both Lima and Rodrigo scored, with Garay scoring the other two goals. Benfica have not lost a home game since October 2012, when Barcelona were the visitors in a Champions League Group game.

Spurs are at risk of losing a fourth consecutive game for the first time since March 2004, when David Pleat was in temporary charge for most of the season after Glenn Hoddle had been sacked. Tim Sherwood does not need that sort of stain upon his sort managerial career. Even Juande Ramos did not lose four consecutive games in his short time as Spurs' boss.

To add to our woes, we have never recovered from a home first leg defeat in a UEFA Competition. The nearest we came to that was in March 2006, when we lost at home to PSV 1-0, but then won by the same score in Holland. Sadly, true to form, we lost the penalty shoot-out. (When Spurs beat Hull in a penalty shoot-out in October, it was the first such win in 19 years!) A certain goalkeeper called Gomes was playing for the Dutch side. Remember him?

Have a look at BetBright's Europa League blog, for the very latest advice regarding tonight's Europa League games.

The Spurs defence then could be lining up as follows:- Lloris; Naughton, Sandro, Fryers, Rose. Who exactly plays in front of them remains a mystery, as the club have yet to issue team news, but pre-match publicity suggests that Andros Townsend will be involved.

Spurs would need to win by three clear goals, unless they managed a 4-2 win or higher score. It will be enough of a miracle if Sherwood's side can prevent an extension of that losing streak, and manage a draw. I don't hold out any hope.

The referee for this game is Mr Damir Skomina from Slovenia. He has refereed plenty of high profile games in Europe and internationally over the last year, including last year's Champions League semi-final between Barcelona and Bayern Munich; England v Poland in October, and benfica's Champions League game away to Olympiakos in November.

· 15 years ago on March 21st, Spurs beat Leicester 1-0 in the Worthington Cup Final

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