Date: Thursday, October 3 Venue: Saturn Stadium, Moscow Kick-Off: 17:00 Can Tottenham can take control of Group K of the Europa League tonight with victory over Russian outfit Anzhi Makhachkala?
Team News
Anzhi will be without striker Lacina Traore due to a shoulder injury. Alexandru Epureanu (knee) and Ilya Maksimov are also out. Spurs have a series of injury concerns of their own. Jan Vertonghen and Paulinho have not travelled to Russia, while Etienne Capoue (ankle), Aaron Lennon (foot) and Emmanuel Adebayor (illness) are also absent. (Eurosport)
Key Stats
Anzhi are no stranger to English opposition. They defeated Liverpool 1-0 in last seaason's Europa League and were knocked out by Newcastle United in the Round of 16. Tottenham have conceded just two goals (against Arsenal and Chelsea) in 10 matches in all competitions this season. Anzhi have failed to score in their last three European matches. Spurs have kept three consecutive clean sheets in this competition.
Spurs come up against an Anzhi team on Thursday who have been stripped of most of their star players. Russian billionaire owner Suleyman Kerimov decided to significantly reduce the club's budget over the summer and sell all of its expensive players, including Samuel Eto'o and Willian. Both are now playing for Tottenham's London rivals Chelsea which should make life a little easier for manager Andre Villas-Boas tonight, particularly as the Russians are also without striker Lacina Traore. However, this fixture comes just three days before Sunday's Premier League tie against West Ham, and returning from a long-haul flight to Moscow probably isn't the best way to prepare for such a game. Villas-Boas says the long travelling his team must endure cannot be used as an excuse for any potential slip-up at the weekend, however. He told the BBC:
"Last year we were also in a very difficult group and this year it's the same. "Our objective is to progress. We know we have to make a big, big effort regarding the trips, but we will be ready and we have learned from last season that we can't use the Europa League as an excuse. "We have to use it as an example and the players will be fully motivated to do it this season too."
A win would see Spurs on 6 points in Group K and in command in these early stages of the competition.
Joseph is an accredited football journalist and has interviewed nearly all of the current 20 Barclay's Premier League managers. He is also a correspondent for Bleacher Report and has written for Caught Offside and Give Me Football.
