Tottenham’s possible Champions League opponents after Marseille win

Tottenham train ahead of Champions League trip to Marseille

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

Tottenham clinched top spot in Champions League Group D on Tuesday evening, but they did it the hard way thanks to a nervy 2-1 win over Marseille. With Antonio Conte in his first Champions League knockout phase since 2017/18, Express Sport looks ahead to Spurs’ possible opponents when the competition resumes after the World Cup…

The Lilywhites went into Tuesday’s hostile encounter knowing that, no matter what, a draw would be enough to see them through while a defeat would see them crash out. They got off to a shaky start after Marseille fans let off fireworks outside their hotel in the small hours of the morning and created a hostile atmosphere inside the Stade Velodrome. 

Things got even worse when Chancel Mbemba headed the hosts in front on the stroke of half time. Spurs rallied after the interval, however, and goals from unlikely duo Clement Lenglet and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg wrapped up the points and booked their spot in the next phase. 

Despite coming top of Group D, an unlucky draw could see Tottenham come up against the likes of Real Madrid, AC Milan or Paris Saint-Germain in the round of 16.

JUST IN: Antonio Conte thanks unlikely heroes and Bentancur finds new role as Tottenham progress

Spurs won’t be allowed to face teams from their own country, or from their own group, at that stage of the tournament. That therefore rules out a clash with Liverpool, who finished second in Group A despite beating Napoli on Tuesday. 

Groups A to D have already been completed with Club Brugge and Inter Milan the two sides Spurs could face from that half of the competition. Things could shift around when action resumes on Wednesday as a collection of top teams all have something to play for in their respective groups. 

READ MORE
Man Utd told PSV ‘will now accept’ £25m for Cody Gakpo after Erik ten Hag transfer talks
Arsenal can finally land winger signing by beating Man Utd to discounted £25m bargain
Man Utd star Antony already warned he will ‘get kicked up in air’ over showboating

PSG could drop down to second spot, and subsequently into Spurs’ firing line, if they fail to match Benfica’s result. The Portuguese outfit face a trip to face Maccabi Haifa which, on paper at least, is more favourable than the Parisians’ trip to Turin where Juventus await. 

Los Blancos are at home to bottom-side Celtic which means RB Leipzig are Tottenham’s most-likely opponents if they are drawn against second spot in Group F. With Manchester City enjoying a healthy lead in Group C, Borussia Dortmund look set for second place which would also put them on Spurs’ list of potential challengers. 

AC Milan are in a good position to tie up second in Group E with Chelsea leading the way, but RB Salzburg, who travel to the San Siro, could change things around with a victory. Spurs fans will therefore watch on intently to see which way the pendulum swings. 

After the win over Marseille, stand-in manager Cristian Stellini gave his own rundown of events. “We repeat the same routine of the last three or four games, didn’t start well in the first half,” he said.

“We didn’t use power or intensity in the first half. We let them play too much and we lost the pitch, they had the control of the game. After, in the second half when we changed to another solution, we had more control of the game. We had a good second half, I think.”

Source: Read Full Article