Date: Thursday, 14th February Venue: White Hart Lane K/o: 20:05
Team News
Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris will not face his former team as Spurs host Lyon in the first leg of their Europa League last-32 tie. Brad Friedel will start in goal against the French club, while Emmanuel Adebayor will lead the line up front in the absence of the injured Jermain Defoe, who misses out with an ankle injury. Long-term absentees Sandro and Younes Kaboul remain out, but the latter should be available again for the second leg in a fortnight. Tom Huddlestone is ruled out with a minor knee injury but new signing Lewis Holtby could start. Lyon have no fresh injury concerns and Former AC Milan playmaker Yoann Gourcuff may start. In-demand striker Bafetimbi Gomis may be given the nod ahead of Lisandro Lopez up front with the Frenchman racking up 16 goals so far this season.
Match Preview
Tottenham play host to Lyon tonight on the back of a 2-1 win over Newcastle United in the Premier League which provides Andre Villas-Boas and his men a fantastic opportunity to qualify for the more notable of the two European competitions - the Champions League - next season. Lyon meanwhile are also well equipped to qualify for Europe's top competition but trail first placed Paris St Germain by 6 points in Ligue 1. Rémi Garde's men warmed up for this encounter in the worst possible fashion however. They have just one win from their last four and come into this game after a 1-3 home defeat to Lille. Tottenham will also be further boosted by the fact that they are unbeaten in the UEFA Europa League this season and have not lost, at home, in any competition, since Wigan beat them in a Premier League match in early November. Former Lyon goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, who joined from the French outfit last summer, will not be facing his former club for the first time with veteran American shot-stopper Brad Friedel getting the nod instead.
Likely Line-Ups
Tottenham Friedel, Walker, Dawson, Vertonghen, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon, Dembele, Holtby, Bale, Dempsey, Adebayor
Lyon Vercoutre, Reveillere, Lovren, Bisevac, Dabo, Fofana, Gonalons, Gourcuff, Grenier, Ghezzal, Gomis Source:
International Business Times