FC Twente v Tottenham Hotspur [19:45 - 07/12/10]

Billy

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FC Twente v Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham travel to FC Twente in the UEFA Champions League searching for the win that would guarantee top spot in Group A.

Spurs have impressed in their debut Champions League campaign and currently lead the pool following some excellent results so far.

Harry Redknapp's side are level on points with European champions Inter Milan but, because they have a superior head-to-head record over the Italians, they only have to match the Nerazzurri's result at Werder Bremen to be assured of pole position.

This means they would avoid facing a number of big-hitters in the first knockout round of the competition, and would play a team that finishes second instead of first.

Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich have already secured top spot in their respective groups, so Tottenham will be keen to earn a victory in Enschede and steer clear of a tricky tie next up.

Twente themselves cannot qualify for the latter stages of the tournament but are assured of third place and a Europa League berth.

The Dutch side were beaten 4-1 at White Hart Lane in the reverse fixture on Matchday Two, and will be looking for their first home win in the Champions League following two draws so far.

Twente have a poor record against clubs from England with three draws and seven defeats, and fellow North Londoners Arsenal were the last Premier League outfit to beat them on their home patch in the 2008/09 third qualifying round.

Sander Boschker, Theo Janssen and Wout Brama were in that Twente team while William Gallas, now a Spurs player, scored one of Arsenal's goals and found the net again in their 4-0 second-leg success.

Tottenham come into the game on the back of a 3-0 demolition of Bremen, while the Eredivisie champions lost out 1-0 to Inter at the San Siro.

Team news

Jermaine Jenas is fit for Spurs despite missing the last European outing with a calf injury.

Jenas did not feature in the 1-1 draw with Birmingham City at the weekend, but is expected to return, while Luka Modric is out with an illness.

Midfield maestro Rafael van der Vaart is still absent with a hamstring problem, and in-form defender Younes Kaboul continues to recover from a thigh complaint.

Boss Redknapp will have to utilise the full depth of his squad, as he also has long-term concerns over Tom Huddlestone, Ledley King, Jonathan Woodgate, Giovani Dos Santos and Jamie O'Hara.

Michael Dawson was on the bench against the Blues on Saturday and could return to the fold, although Sandro is ineligible.

Twente are currently joint top of the Dutch Eredivisie on goal difference with PSV Eindhoven and earned a 2-0 victory over De Graafschap at the weekend.

Rasmus Bengtsson started against NEC the previous week on his return from a groin injury but Nicky Kuiper is still out after tearing knee ligaments against ADO Den Haag on 24th October. The 21-year-old had only been back for a month after shaking off another knee injury that had sidelined him since March.

Bryan Ruiz could be out until mid-January with a knee problem, while Emir Bajrami underwent surgery on 11th October on an ankle injury suffered on Matchday Two.

I'm thinking we'll play Gallas and Dawson for this game, with Bassong ready to step in if required for the latter. Harry knows he needs to eventually give Dawson a run-out to let him get some match fitness.

Unfortunately, with VDV out, then Bale will be the one to shoulder the goalscoring responsibility with our strikers lacking goals, although with Defoe potentially starting his first Champions League game, perhaps he will remedy that tonight.

I personally think we'll be resting players in anticipation of our match against Chelsea, so perhaps our star names such as Bale will be rested in favour of those such as Kranjcar who haven't had a game in a long time.

Prediction: FC Twente 1 - 1 Tottenham Hotspur
 
Spurs in europe this season have been nothing short of magical compared to how we all thought they'd be, I hope they win and push on. If Manchester United don't win the Champions League I'd love it to be Tottenham, just to see the faces on the Chelsea fan's and prove that you don't need to buy success :D
 
1-0 Fc Twente please as i dont want to think about spurs finishing 1st and Arsenal 2nd in thier groups :S
 
It says he has long term concerns about Giovani, but he's on the bench tonight. Hopefully he'll get a run out. It's good to see Kranjcar given a go as well.
 
Bale 2-1 FC Twente jokes



 
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Most ridiculous goal of the tournament so far puts us 1-0 ahead.

Goalkeeper basically miskicked after a backpass and it rolled into the open net.
 
1-1 in " Twente " minutes, think im watching the wrong game here XD im watching the United - Valencia one.
 
Penalty was conceded by BAE, as he raised his arm to protect his face from a rocket of a volley, that was likely headed into the corner of the net anyway, in fairness. Certainly looked that way from the initial replay.

FC Twente 1 - 1 Tottenham Hotspur
 
FC Twente 1 - 2 Tottenham Hotspur

Ball slipped into the box by Lennon and slammed home by Defoe, who scores his first ever Champions League goal.

---------- Post added at 01:58 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:50 AM ----------

FC Twente 2 - 2 Tottenham Hotspur

Superb delivery and the ball rockets into the net like a bullet after being met on the head. Poor defending by us unfortunately, as neither Gallas or Bassong jumped for the ball during the cross.
 
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