EuroSpurs – Monaco @ Wembley

It’s been five long years in the desert, but Tottenham have finally returned to the promised land of Champions League. A completely different set of players will represent the Lilywhites in the 2016/17 edition of Europe’s elite competition, but Tottenham fans will be hoping for similar excitement levels to their last endeavour. Many fans still vividly remember Aaron Lennon’s run of the pitch against AC Milan before he teed it up for Peter Crouch, and who could forget Gareth Bale’s masterclass in the San Siro against Maicon? The Spurs faithful will be hoping for more of the same from Harry Kane and co. this season, and the campaign begins as we welcome Ligue Un leaders Monaco to Wembley…

What to expect from Monaco?

Tottenham and Monaco are familiar foes, having faced off against each other in last year’s Europa League. A Lamela-inspired Tottenham prevailed over two legs on that occasion (A 1-1 draw in France, followed by a 4-1 win at the Lane), however, the Monaco team coming to town this week appears to be a different beast.

Like Spurs, the Principality club are currently unbeaten in the league so far this season. AS Monaco lead the way in the French top flight with three wins and a draw, including a convincing 3-1 win against reigning champions PSG.

Monaco 3 – 1 PSG, Monaco Line-Up

During that impressive win, Monaco boss Leonardo Jardim set his side up defensively. With a defence built on captain Daniejl Subasic and No-nonsense Polish centre-back Kamil Glik. Defensive minded midfield duo Sidibe and Fabinho have been two of the leading performers at Monaco this season, while Portuguese winger Bernardo Silva provides spark from the wing. The team was built around key man (and long-term Tottenham target) Joao Moutinho who orchestrates Monaco’s play from the middle of the park. Looking ahead to this week’s action, Tottenham holding midfielder Eric Dier can expect his hands full with the likely task of shutting down the Portuguese maestro.

While there has been no shortage of goals so far this season at Monaco, they are lacking an out-and-out prolific striker. The likely starter on Wednesday is Valére Germain. The 26-year old Frenchman has been on the books at Monaco since 2010, but spent last season on loan at OGC Nice where he notched 14 goals in 38 games, but he is yet to score since his return to Monaco. Another figure Tottenham’s defence may come toe-to-toe with this week is former European goal-machine Radamel Falcao. The former Porto and Atletico Madrid star has returned to Monaco after a lacklustre time in England, and is yet to make an appearance in Ligue Un this season. Nevertheless, Falcao certainly has a nose for goals on occasions like this, and you can be sure that Pochettino will have pointed to the Colombian as a serious potential threat.

The last name Tottenham fans should become familiar with before the tie is that of Adama Traoré. The 21-year-old attacking midfielder starred for Mali in last year’s U20 World Cup, where he took home the Golden Ball award for Best Player after scoring 4 goals and recording 3 assists. The dynamic attacker is likely to cause problems for Tottenham, especially if he comes off the bench to test tired legs.

What about Tottenham?

As I alluded to in this week’s End-Game Round-Up of EPL action, I discussed the pleasant selection headache Pochettino now faces. Two weeks ago, Tottenham seemed limited in their options in attack, yet as of now, it’s highly likely that two of Sissoko, Lamela or Heung Min Son will start on the bench as Spurs start their European campaign.

Ben Davies ably deputised for the injured Danny Rose midweek, and will likely continue his role in Wembley, while it’s possible that Kieran Trippier could provide a break for Kyle Walker, though that may be more suited to a later tie. Breaking up the rock solid centre-back pairing would be lunacy for such an important game, while Harry Kane is a sure-fire starter up front. That leaves the last selection headache at centre-midfield, where Pochettino must be itching to write the name ‘Dembele’ on the teamsheet for the first time this season.

With that in mind, here is my expected line-up for Spurs X Monaco

Predicted Line-Up: Spurs x Monaco

While Victor Wanyama has impressed in place of Dembele so far this season, it’s likely that the Dembele-Dier tandem which served Tottenham so well last season will again be trusted to deliver in European competition. Similarly, the attacking quartet of Lamela-Alli-Eriksen-Kane has been Pochettino’s go-to unit since he started at White Hart Lane, and all four have come into form at the ideal moment. That said, Heung Min Son impressed at the weekend, and Moussa Sissoko offers a devastating combination of pace and power, so don’t be surprised if either of those two prove to be the matchwinner from the bench.

The last Tottenham boss to oversee a Champions League game was the Great Harry Redknapp, and Harry himself has often spoken of his admiration for the current Spurs side. However, this week Redknapp bemoaned the fact that Tottenham will play their home UCL games in Wembley, referring to it as a major disadvantage. I beg to differ though – This opportunity gives Tottenham the unprecedented chance to fill an 80,000 seater stadium. With the majority of that monstrous crowd in Lilywhite, there’s great hope that the team will be further driven to rise to the occasion, making a trip to Wembley an extremely daunting proposition for opposition sides.

Prediction

• A cautious Monaco side to set up extremely defensively, relying on moments of magic and set pieces from Joao Moutinho to steal a result
• Tottenham’s playmakers to thrive in the extra space provided by Wembley’s bigger pitch. Look for particularly productive days from Erik Lamela and Kyle Walker, as the superfit duo should wreak havoc given the extra space.
• Man of the Match performance from Moussa Dembele – The Belgian midfield general must be craving some Tottenham action, and doing under the bright lights of a Champions League evening gives him the perfect platform to dominant
• Result: Tottenham Hotspur 1 – 0 Monaco

EuroSpurs – What will Tottenham Face in Group E?

Tottenham’s 2016 Champion’s League adventure moved one step closer this Friday as the Group stage draw was held in Nyon, Switzerland. Tottenham; who were seeded in Pot 3, were drawn in Group E along with CSKA Moscow, Bayer Leverkusen and AS Monaco. The general feeling among Spurs fans is one of quiet confidence. Tottenham began the day in danger of being dealt a tricky task from some of the heavyweights from Pots 1 and 2, Instead, Spurs now find themselves in a group they have every chance of success in. So what can we expect from our Group E opponents? Let’s start with the top seed…

CSKA Moscow

Last year: Champion’s League group stage

While may viewed CSKA as one of the softest teams in Pot one of this CL draw, there’s little doubt that the trip to Russia is one of the most difficult in the Champions League, as Premier League sides have found out in recent times. In the 2015 edition of the Champion’s League group stages, Man United could only come away from Moscow with a draw, while Manchester City were only managed 1 point across both ties against CSKA Moscow in 2014 (CSKA had a 2-1 win over City in the Etihad). Tottenham will not only have to stand up to the CSKA effort, but also the boreal weather conditions common to Russia in October and November.

On the flip side, Tottenham face a CSKA side that have lost two key players since this stage last year. Speed merchant Ahmed Musa has joined the Leicester City revolution, while striker Seydou Doumbia who scored twice against Manchester City in 2014, is now plying his trade at FC Basel. In Summary, Tottenham have been given a great chance to top the group having avoided the likes of Barcelona and Bayern Munich in group one, but to leapfrog the Russian champions, Tottenham must overcome plenty of challenges before December.

Key man: Alan Dzagoev

If you told CSKA fans in 2012 that Alan Dzagoev would still be at the club in 2016, they’d have laughed you out of the building. ‘That guy will be the star of Real Madrid by then!’ they might have responded.

And it could well have been true. In 2008, Dzagoev was a rising star, and was awarded with the ‘Young Russian Player of the Year’ accolade. Interest from Real Madrid followed. Dzagoev himself played down rumours, and actually flirted with a move to Chelsea instead. Four years later the playmaker starred in Euro 2012, where he finished as joint top scorer.

Now at 26, Dzagoev may still harbour hopes of a big move on the horizon, however for now, he remains the fulcrum of the CSKA Moscow midfield. Expect him to keep Eric Dier or Victor Wanyama on their toes.

One to Watch: Lacina Traore

It will certainly be hard to miss him – The giant Ivorian striker stands at a huge 6’8, taller than our old Champions League hero Peter Crouch.

The 26 year old Traore had a goal-scoring spell with Russian side Kuban Krasnador between 2011 and 2012 where he hit 18 goals in 38 games. A similarly prolific spell followed from 2012-2014 when he moved to newly rich side Anzhi Makhachkala where he notched 13 strikes in 29 games.

A move to Monaco followed by an underwhelming loan to Everton has seen the goals dry up and the target man is yet to score in his 4 appearances for CSKA, but he will surely provide a difficult afternoon’s work for Belgian duo Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen.

Bayer Leverkusen

Last year: Champion’s League group stage

Tottenham’s next opponents are last year’s Bundesliga 3^rd place side Bayer Leverkusen. Leverkusen have a good Champions League pedigree, having been regular contenders in the group stages in recent times, and also finalists in 2002 where they lost out to a Zinedine Zidane inspired Real Madrid side.

Leverkusen cruelly missed out on the knockout stages of last year’s Champion’s League after coming in third place behind Roma on a head-to-head record after both sides finished the group with 6 points. A subsequent Europa League campaign was cut-short by Villareal who knocked them out in the Round of 16.

Leverkusen will provide a workman-like side not unlike Mauricio Pochettino’s charges, but in terms of player-to-player quality, it would seem Tottenham have the edge over the German side.

Key man: Javier Hernandez

Tottenham’s players will be reacquainted with old Manchester United goal-poacher ‘Chicarito’ Hernandez when they meet Bayer Leverkusen in the group stages. After brief links to Tottenham last year, the Mexican striker eventually moved to Bayer Leverkusen, where he scored a very impressive 17 goals in 28 games in his debut season.

Tottenham will be acutely aware of what Hernandez can bring to the table. His lethal turn of pace and his keen eye for goal can cause problems for even the stingiest defences, but Pochettino will be aware that if the supply of ball to the diminutive striker can be limited, his influence can be completely stifled.

One to Watch: Hakan Calhanoglu

Another player who has recently been linked to Spurs (In reality though… what attacker hasn’t been?) is playmaker 22-year old Hakan Calhanoglu.

Calhanoglu burst onto the Bundesliga scene in 2013 with Hamburger SV where he popped up with 11 goals and 4 assists in 32 games. The Turkish playmaker particularly caught the eye with his flair for spectacular long-range strikes. The attacking midfielder moved on to Leverkusen in the 2014 season and has continued to improve since. Calhanoglu once stated that he would like to be considered a ‘Turkish Mesut Ozil’, a player whom he has long admired, so Tottenham should be well aware of the sort of skillset he will bring to the table.

AS Monaco

Last year: Europa League

Rounding out Group E is possibly the strongest side to come out of pot 4 – AS Monaco.

Monaco have enjoyed a new lease of life since their return to Ligue Un in 2013, when Dmitry Rybolovlev’s millions provided the team with numerous blue-chip signings. The Principality club have shot straight back to the upper echelons of the French League but are yet to wrestle the title away from PSG’s tight grip.

Tottenham have already been acquainted with this Monaco side, having faced them in the Europa League group stage this time last year. On that occasion, Tottenham had a difficult 1-1 draw in the Louis II stadium, but had a resounding 4-1 win in White Hart Lane during which Erik Lamela starred while scoring a hat-trick.

Tottenham very capably dealt with the threat Monaco provided in European competition this year, and the hope is that this year will prove no different. However, while Tottenham undoubtedly have the stronger squad selection, Monaco certainly have players capable of punishing a complacent side.

Key man: Joao Moutinho

I recently started off an article about Tottenham’s Transfer Tragedies by re-telling the tale of Joao Moutinho, who almost became the centrepiece of the Tottenham midfield. Alas, the move was not to be, and now Monaco enjoy the services of the Portuguese midfield conductor.

Small in stature, but rich in football intelligence, Moutinho plays a similar one to the role played by Luka Modric in his Tottenham days. Moutinho is often the instigator of Monaco’s positive play, so if Spurs can win the midfield battle, and stifle Moutinho’s production, they will have taken a huge step towards a win.

One to Watch: Radamel Falcao

They say form is temporary, and class is permanent, but figuring out which of those categories Radamel Falcao currently falls into is a tricky question.

In the past two seasons, Falcao has appeared to be nothing more than a con-man, nicking a living from Man United and Chelsea, where he scored a combined 5 goals in a 36 appearances – hardly an adequate return from a €60million man. However, people shouldn’t forget that a cruel ACL injury was the initial cause of this lapse in form, and prior to this, Radamel Falcao had been unstoppable.

41 goals in 51 appearances for Porto, including a goal in a succesful Europa League final, made Falcao one of Europe’s hottest prospects by 2011. Atletico Madrid took the plunge and shelled out €40million on Falcao to replace the departing Sergio Aguero. Falcao played lights out for Atletico, hitting a stellar 52 goals in 61 appearances. A move to Monaco for €60million followed soon after, but the downturn in his goalscoring form then arrived.

Despite this, Tottenham must surely be aware of the potential threat Radamel Falcao possesses. Not only is his scoring record impressive, but his penchant for scoring goals in big European games is widely renowned. Shutting down Falcao will be a crucial factor to Spurs success against Monaco.

So, as Tottenham prepare to take on this fantastic opportunity, with a group winners place at stake, I hope my Group E preview will have served you well… Come on you Spurs!