· Bayer Leverkusen 0 Spurs 0 - Match report, 18.10.16
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Spurs' record in Europe:-
U.E.F.A Champions League
P W D L F - A
15 6 4 5 27 - 21
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)
Total
P W D L F - A
194 108 45 41 381-187
UEFA Champions League - GROUP E
Pos Team P W D L F-A GD Pts
1. Monaco 3 1 2 0 4-3 1 5
2. Spurs 3 1 1 1 2-2 0 4
3. Bayer L'Kusen 3 0 3 0 3-3 0 3
4. CSKA 3 0 2 1 3-4 -1 2
A "home" win is crucial, surely?
Spurs play their second "home" Champions League game at Wembley tomorrow night on the sixth anniversary of one of their most inspired European performances. Yes, it was six years ago precisely on 2nd November 2010 when Gareth Bale, who had scored an away hat-trick in the San Siro, led us to a magnificent 3-1 home win against Inter, who at the time were the reigning European Champions.
A similarly inspired performance is surely required tomorrow, whilst in-form group leaders Monaco host CSKA who will be lucky to leave the Principality with a point. Monaco drew in Moscow, since when CSKA have lost two away games. In the meantime the French League team beat Montpelier 6-2 at home and drew away on Saturday to St Etienne.
Our own opponents, Bayer Leverkusen have like Spurs played three games since we played a stalemate two weeks ago. They lost at home to TSG Hoffenheim and beat Wolfsburg away on Saturday. in between those games, the German side drew a Cup game 2-2, but lost out to Sportfreunde Lotte 4-3 on penalties. Lotte play in the third tier of German football.
Bayer Leverkusen's two goals in that cup game were scored by Kevin Volland, who took no part in our away game, and is not a regular starter in the Bundesliga. The two goals on Saturday were scored by Mehmedi and Jedvad, who did play against us.
Clearly the form of both sides going into this game is not great, as our visitors remain mid-table at home, and need something from this game to keep up their hopes of qualifying for the knock-out phase of the Champions League. As for Spurs, they have to go into this game still without Harry Kane and Toby Alderweireld, who will be struggling to make Sunday's North London Derby. Erik Lamela suffered a hip problem in training this week, having missed Saturday's game through illness. Erik is doubtful for tomorrow.
Moussa Sissoko, suspended Sunday's game, will surely start this game, allowing Mauricio Pochettino to "manage the minutes" of another player or two. A performance of real quality is required from Sissoko, who let Spurs and their fans down badly with his unnecessary elbow on Harry Arter at Bournemouth.
With the Arsenal game in mind, I suspect Pochettino will switch his full-backs, so we could see a starting line-up of Lloris; Trippier, Dier, Vertonghen, Davies; Wanyama, Dembele; Sissoko, Alli, Eriksen; Son/Janssen.
It remains to be seen whether or not Spurs can manage the wide-open spaces of Wembley where they failed against Monaco in September. It looks as if we will see an other record crowd, and I hope the 85,000+ can urge their team on to a great performance and success. I'll go for a narrow "home" win.
The match officials are all from Sweden for this game. Referee Jonas Eriksson is one of the better known referees on the European and International circuit, and over the last year seems to have taken charge of more games abroad than in Sweden. I expect the long winter break accounts for much of that. Mr Eiksson was in charge of the Europa League Final in which Liverpool lost to Sevilla, and three games in this year's Euro tournament, including the semi-final in which Wales lost to Portugal.
Mr Eriksson's previous game in charge of Spurs was our 3-1 home defeat to Benfica in the March 2014 Europa League Round of 16.
