Vs
Tottenham Hotspur FC
Stade Louis II
05:00 PM GMT, 1st Oct 2015
In a battle for group dominance, Monaco host Tottenham for one of the two games that will decide who will finish at the top.
Thursday night football has become somewhat of a regular affair for English side Tottenham Hotspur who visit Monaco for their Europa League group tie. Having picked up all three points in the first game against Quarbag, Spurs top the group with a positive goal difference (2). Monaco on the other hand salvaged a draw against Anderlecht and hence are tied with them on the table with one point.
Team Tactics and Line-ups
A S Monaco
Leonardo Jardim will look to change his Europa League fortune by playing an aggressive home game against London side Tottenham in an attempt to top Group J of the Europa League. With a few prominent players rested during their weekend draw against Guingamp, Jardim will look to oust the visitors with a 4-3-3 formation.
Monaco a club that recently parted with players such as James Rodriguez and Radamel Falcao, will now regret their sale of striker Antony Martial to Manchester United. However, Monaco still have a fair share of fire power in the form of Milan prodigy El Shaarawy. Jardim will most likely feature a front three of Nabil Dirar, El Shaarawy and Thomas Lemar. Lemar is Monacoa s top scorer and has cooked up quite a storm with his recent performances. Dirar will give Trippier a task for the night with his blistering pace as he provides support from deeper positions down the wing. Shaarawy on the other hand is an exceptional striker who has been marred with injuries. Having already scored two for his new club, the a Egyptian Ronaldoa will look to score a couple against the gritty north London side.
In the three midfield role, 32- year old Toulalan will play the deep defensive midfield role, who will look to shut down key passes from the likes of Eriksen and Caroll. His performance will be key to the sides defensive record especially after the departure of Kondogbia. On either side of the veteran will be the Portuguese wizard JoA?o Moutinho and Bernardo Silva. The midfield duo will serve as a creative outlet for the side providing key passes for their pacey front three.
Monacoa s back four will consists of former Real Madrid left back Fabio Coentrao and Portuguese veteran Carvalho. The two have vast experience and will provide a solid defensive cover. However, the pace of Townsend and Chadli might be problem for the aging Carvalho. The right side of the back four will feature Italian Andrea Raggi and Almamy Toure on the flank. The duo have poorer defensive abilities than their team mates and might be troubled often with Roses and Chaldia s runs down the left. Their performance will be key to deciding whether Monaco will succeed or fail. Goalkeeper Danijel SubaA?i will complete the starting eleven.
Predicted Line-up: SubaA?i , Toure, Raggi, Carvalho, Coentrao; Silva, Toulalan, Moutinho; Dirar, Shaarawy, Lamar.
Tottenham Hotspur
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With the recent news of Heung Min-Son picking up a foot injury, Mauricio Pochettino will be forced to use Harry Kane in the number 9 role. However, with his recent goal against Manchester City, Kane is sure to be riding high on confidence and will look to get back to his scoring ways with an additional confidence booster midweek. Pochettino this season is like a kid I a candy store, he is spoilt for choices with two players for every position and all off them performing well. The Europa League hence has given him a platform to play a squad that hasna t featured on the weekend.
Employing a 4-2-3-1 formation, Pochettino will look to destroy his French rivals by dominating possession and playing a fast paces counter attacking game. However, one cause for concern in the Tottenham squad is the goal keeper Michael Vorm who will feature in this game. The Dutch man is but a shade of what he was at Swansea and seems to have developed a hole in the bucket. However with regular games mid-week, Pochettino hopes to inspire the shot stopper in order to ensure the team isna t left helpless if Lloris were to be injured.
Tottenhama s second string of defence isna t however a cause for concern. With Trippier on the right and Rose on the left, the two wing-backs are steadily improving in order to be a part of the Premier League Playing eleven. Fazio on the other hand has shown in the Capital one cup clash why he has been a liability to the squad. With Alderweireld returning to action, he will partner Kevin Wimmer the Austrian youngster at central defence. Eric Dier who will again continue his fine run of form at midfield will provide the back four with the necessary cover.
Tom Caroll who had a cameo appearance in the dying minutes of the City game will feature in the deep box to box role. While Chadli and Townsend will be the chosen wingers on the left and right respectively. Townsend although in exceptional form has recently been side-lined as Lamela has started to deliver his moneya s worth. Chadli on the other hand has had better luck with his appearances and will hope to once again be Tottenhama s highest scoring midfielder. Eriksena s reasonable performance from city may be excused as he has yet to regain full fitness post injury. He will however feature in this game as the play maker right behind Spurs golden boy Harry Kane.
Predicted Line-up: Vorm, Trippier, Alderweireld, Wimmer, Rose; Dier, Caroll, Townsend, Erisken, Chadli; Kane;
Match Facts
- The last time the two sides met (2013) was a friendly, Monaco thrashed Spurs 5-2
- Monacoa s form in the previous 5 games a DWLDW
- Tottenhama s form in the previous 5 games a WLWWW
Man To Watch
Eric Dier
Eric Dier has embraced his new midfield role with open arms, his defensive capabilities provides adequate cover to the back line, while his improved passing and pace allow him to make a few attacking forward runs. His height also aids his aerial ability as he poses a huge threat in set pieces. Fans could expect another man of the match performance from the English youngster who will keep a tab on Moutinho and his exceptional passing.
Predictions
Monaco 1 a 2 Tottenham
Although Monaco are a strong side, they have struggled to produce a result against a slightly weak but hardworking Anderlecht. However Spurs will be a completely different challenge for them. As the team will back their hard work with really good skill. Although Monaco will earn a lead through their striker El Shaarawy, Tottenham will bounce back and score two to steal all three points.