Tottenham players hope that with the support from the stands of Wembley, they will be able to beat, or at least, play draw with out-of-form Barcelona. But, despite their recent poor run, Barcelona definitely have the player quality needed to make their second win in the Champions League this season. So, does this mean Tottenham will lose their second match in this competition as well, after losing to Inter two weeks ago? Find out in this Tottenham vs Barcelona match preview!
Tottenham
People were worried that after the summer transfer window during which they didn’t make any signings, the Spurs would struggle in the new season. But, it seems they’re okay. The players who played fantastic last season are still in the team, with the only difference being that they now have more experience.
The Spurs are currently flying real high in the Premier League. They’re at the 4th spot right now and could easily go higher up. But even the 4th place is a great success, considering that the Premier League has never been this strong.
The problem is that fighting the battles in the top English flight means that Tottenham can’t entirely focus on their Champions League performances. The good news is that their schedule in the domestic league is pretty easy in the next couple of weeks, so they can do their utmost on Wednesday evening.
And they will have to do their best if they plan to advance to the second stage. They lost to Inter 2:1, which means that they have zero points right now. Speaking of that game, the Spurs had the lead until the final moments of the game, but then lost everything in a matter of only a couple of minutes.
And the reason why they’re not playing well in later stages of games lies in the fact that most of their players are struggling with fitness. There are plenty of injured players in the squad, which means that those who aren’t injured have to play more minutes. In turn, players like Harry Kane seem jaded and really in a need of rest.
Barcelona
It’s been four seasons since Barcelona won their previous Champions League title. Once again, they’re among the biggest favorites for the trophy. And it’s not a surprise that that’s the case, considering that they have a fantastic team, led by one of the best players in the football history, Lionel Messi. Speaking of Messi, after the first round of the Champions League, he’s the top scorer of the competition with three goals to his name.
Apart from doing well in the Champions League, Barca have been doing excellent in La Liga. Truth be told, the reason why they’re still at the top is that their biggest rivals haven’t been playing great. And Barcelona have also started dropping points. Actually, for Barca’s standards, their recent form is horrible.
First they played draw with Girona, then they lost to Leganes, and when everyone thought their poor run was over, they played another draw at home, this time with Athletic Club. Barcelona need to pull themselves together quickly if they plan to achieve their goals for the season. And the game with the Spurs might be the one that will start off a winning streak.
Team News
Tottenham absentees
- Dele Alli (injury)
- Serge Aurier (injury)
- Vincent Janssen (injury)
- Christian Eriksen (doubtful)
- Hugo Lloris (doubtful)
- Mousa Dembele (doubtful)
- Jan Vertonghen (doubtful)
- Michel Vorm (doubtful)
Barcelona absentees
- Samuel Umtiti (suspension)
- Sergi Roberto (injury)
Possible Lineups
Tottenham
Gazzaniga – Alderweireld, Sanchez, Trippier, Rose – Dier, Wanayama, Sissoko – Son, Lucas, Kane
Barcelona
Ter Stegen – Pique, Lenglet, Semedo, Alba – Busquets, Vidal, Rakitic – Messi, Coutinho, Suarez
Tottenham vs Barcelona Match Prediction
Even if the Spurs had no problems with injuries, they would still be underdogs against Barca. This way, I’m confident the away team will be the victors.
Tottenham vs Barcelona Betting Tips
- Barcelona @2.05 (William Hill)