· This season's home game - Spurs 2 Barcelona 4, 03.10.18
· See the current injury list for all Premier League Teams
· All the Spurs Stats you could hope for here! THFC6061 Sports Stats

Spurs' record in Europe:-

U.E.F.A Champions League
 
 P  W   D   L   F - A
30 13   7  10  56 - 42
 
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
140  78  36  26  276-121 
 
(Winners 1972, 1984
 Finalists 1974)
 
Total
P    W   D   L   F - A
211 115 49  47  418-210

Group B Table
                P  W  D  L  F-A  GD   PTS
1. Barcelona    5  4  1  0 13-4   9   13
2. Spurs        5  2  1  2  8-9  -1    7 
3. Inter        5  2  1  2  5-6  -1    7 
4. PSV          5  0  1  4  5-12 -7    1

Hoping to make history!

We all know what is required. We need to either beat Barcelona on their home turf, or at least match Inter's result against PSV. PSV have nothing but pride to play for and Inter are at home, so I guess we need that win. The trouble is we are looking for first win in Spain, and of course a first win in the iconic Camp Nou Stadium, where Barca rarely lose. Barcelona have already secured top place in Group B, which makes it the 12th successive season they have won their Champions League group.

The Camp Nou opened in 1957, and currently has a capacity for just under 100,000 supporters. Recently (since we lost 4-2 to Barcelona in early October) their club president announced plans for a new "Espai Barca" (Barca Space) which will include the construction of a new Camp Nou with a capacity of 105,000. The associated Miniestadi will be demolished and "The Estadi Johan Cruff" will be built at the club's training ground with a capacity of 6,000.

Barca beat Mauricio Pochettino's former team Espanyol on Saturday 4-0 (away) with goals by Messi (2), Ousmane Dembele and Suarez. They have won their last three league games and are once again top of their league. They did suffer a surprising 4-3 home defeat On November 11th when Real Betis beat them 4-3.

It is too early for team news, and I am travelling early on Monday to Barcelona, hence this early preview. Spurs must now have a worry regarding the right back position with Serge Aurier withdrawn against Leicester and Kieran Trippier presumably still unavailable. Does "Poch" trust Kyle Walker-Peters, or perhaps use Eric Dier there. Maybe a back three with Sissoko as wing-back? We'll see. We do know that Christian Eriksen and Harry Kane will start, having only played the latter stages at The King Power Stadium. Son and Dele have to start too, surely?

Erik Lamela will not be available, but Toby Alderweireld and Son Heung-min also have two bookings so far and need to avoid a further yellow card as it would lead to suspension from the next game.

Regarding Barcelona, I do believe they will play without Arthur, who they describe as doing some recovery work with the squad today (Sunday). Malcom is out with an ankle injury. Barca's next game is at Levante on Sunday, and there is no reason to believe they will play anything less than a full team including the genius that is Messi, who mesmerised us at Wembley.

The list of those who have played for both clubs includes Steve Archibald, Nayim, Gary Lineker, Gica Popescu, Edgar Davids, Giovani dos Santos, Eidur Gudjohnsen and Paulinho, but one name you would not think of is Alexander Steel who played one game in 1910 for Spurs and who was at Barca between 1911-1913. The one game Alex Steel played for Spurs was home against Bradford 0-0 when three brothers played for Spurs - Alex, Danny and Bobby Steel - the only time that Tottenham have ever had three brothers in a team.

Terry Venables coached both sides.

On the subject of history, here are the late Brian Judson's recollections of our 1982 European Cup Winners Cup semi-final tie against Barcelona:-

The Semi-Final draw gave Spurs the draw they DIDN'T want. Spurs were drawn to play the first leg of their tie with Barcelona at White Hart Lane. There is only one way to describe how Barcelona played that night and that insults the intelligence of ANIMALS. The surprise was that there were no broken legs. Spurs were a very tired side as they had had so many games to play in a very short period of time. So we should not be too critical of Ray Clemence for the amazing mistake he made of allowing a 40-yard shot from Olmo to slip through his hands. From that moment on, it was obvious Barcelona would use every means to protect their goal. Spurs lost their heads. Roberts was lucky to stay on the field after getting involved in a punch-up. A London policeman had to intervene to prevent Manolo trying to attack Roberts behind the goal. Estella was sent off in the 57th minute to give Tottenham a slight advantage.

With fingernails chewed to the bone, Roberts scored with five minutes left to play. Hoddle found space in a cluttered Barcelona goal area and Roberts stole in on their blind side to side foot the ball home.

The last recollection most people will have of that match is the Barcelona team being called ANIMALS by the White Hart Lane crowd.

Spurs were beaten in the return leg in Barcelona .... after the floodlights went out and power had to be restored. Barcelona scored the only goal of the match early in the second half. The big problem, though, was the players were tired and had no spark or strength to draw on. Perryman, Crooks and Hoddle were all brutally felled during the match.

It was the Danish player Simonsen, who once played for Charlton, who put Barcelona ahead. Quini lobbed the ball into the Spurs area, Price failed to control the ball and Simonsen darted in to slip the ball beyond Clemence.

Thus ended Spurs European exploits in 1982.

I am not going to make a prediction for this game. Obviously I hope for a result to take us through to the Round of 16, but as long as the team gives their all, and plays their best we should be happy. Let's hope it is a night to remember! As I will not be home before Wednesday lunchtime, the Spurs Odyssey match report will be delayed. I hope you find it worth reading when published!

We have encountered match referee Milorad Mazic (Serbia) twice before. The first occasion was a Europa League away match against PAOK in September, 2011. The match was drawn 0-0 and Spurs fielded a very young set of players including Harry Kane, making only his second start for Spurs. Harry was booked for alleged simulation. Mr. Mazic's other game in charge of Spurs was the Europa League quarter-final game against Basel in April, 2013, which we drew 2-2. Harry Kane was on loan with Leicester at the time! Mr. Mazic was in charge of three games in the World Cup Finals this year, and recently had charge of the Man Utd v Juventus Champions League game.

· "It was Twenty Years ago today!" - On 12th December, 1998 Spurs drew 2-2 at home to Man Utd. Warning! This report contains highly sensitive material.

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