Home Ligue 2 Bordeaux PREVIEW: Tonight’s Europa League fixtures

PREVIEW: Tonight’s Europa League fixtures

6
0

Two Premier League teams are in action

SillySeason takes a look at what tonight’s Europa League fixtures have in store for the two Premier League sides in action. Liverpool host Bordeaux at Anfield, whereas Tottenham Hotspur travel to Qarabag.

Liverpool vs Bordeaux

Liverpool will seal qualification into the first knockout round of this season’s competition if they defeat Ligue 1 outfit Bordeaux tonight.

Jurgen Klopp’s Reds currently sit second in Group B on six points, with Switzerland’s FC Sion top on eight points. If results go their way, Liverpool could be top of their group with qualification confirmed by the end of the night.

The Merseyside club are unbeaten in the tournament so far, drawing their first three games – Bordeaux (away), FC Sion (home) and Rubin Kazan (home) – before gaining their first win in Russia, where they defeated Kazan 1-0 thanks to a goal from Jordon Ibe.

On the other hand, Bordeaux have drawn three and lost one of their four matches; this loss came at the hands of group leaders FC Sion, who won 1-0 at Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux.

In terms of team news, Klopp will be without centre-half Martin Skrtel, who has fallen ill. The German manager could also be without Phillipe Coutinho, who has a slight hamstring problem.

However, Daniel Sturridge is fit to play and may well be on the bench for the Reds; Christian Benteke is set to start as the lone centre forward.

The previous meeting between these two sides finished 1-1, with Adam Lallana on the scoresheet for Liverpool.

Tonight’s match kicks off at 8:05pm.

Qarabag vs Tottenham Hotspur

Mauricio Pochettino’s Spurs side are in Azerbaijan tonight to face the country’s champions Qarabag.

If Tottenham are victorious in Baku, they will secure their progression into last 32 of the tournament. However, Qarabag are no pushovers when they play at home. A win for them could see them climb as high as second in Group J if results go their way.

Spurs currently sit top of the group with seven points from four games; their only loss was away at Anderlecht where they blew a 1-0 lead. On the other hand, Qarabag’s only win was at home to Anderlecht where one goal was enough to separate the two sides.

In terms of team news, Pochettino has opted to leave regular first team players Moussa Dembele, Kyle Walker and Danny Rose at home. Nabil Bentaleb, Nacer Chadli and Alex Pritchard are all out with ankle problems and Erik Lamela is carrying a groin injury.

Youngsters Luke McGee, Harry Winks, Josh Onomah, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Shayon Harris have all travelled as part of Spurs’ official 21-man squad – Pochettino could potentially have one eye on Sunday’s big London showdown with Chelsea.

The previous meeting between the two teams saw Tottenham take the three points at White Hart Lane. Heung-min Son scored a brace and Erik Lamela also netted as Spurs overturned a 1-0 deficit to win 3-1.

Tonight’s encounter kicks off at 6pm UK time.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here