Its day 2 of the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg matches as we watch Tottenham Spurs take on Leipzig. Tottenham vs Leipzig at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
TOTTENHAM
Tottenham are currently in 5th place in the English Premier League and are also in the round of 16 in the FA Cup
This is Tottenham’s fourth Champions League round of 16 tie. This is the second time in a row that they face a Bundesliga club at this stage of the competition having beaten Dortmund last year.
The greatest setback for Tottenham tonight will be the absence of Heung-Min Son who was injured in the Spurs Premier League game on Sunday.
“The [Heung-Min Son injury] situation couldn’t be worse in terms of options. There is nothing that you can do. We are going to play with the players that we have available. The players are going to give everything, which is what they are doing. There were periods when I was worried about not having attacking options on the bench; now it’s not having attacking options on the pitch.” Jose Mourinho stated when speaking on what to expect in today’s matchup.
With Harry Kane still out with his hamstring injury, Sissoko out with a knee injury and Son now ruled out, Mourinho’s possible line-up for tonight my look something like this:
Lloris; Aurier, Sánchez, Alderweireld, Tanganga; Winks, Ndombélé; Bergwijn, Alli, Lo Celso; Lucas
Davies and Lamela are still doubtful for tonight’s game.
LEIPZIG
Leipzig are currently in second place in the Bundesliga. This will be the first time they come head to head with an English club in European competition.
With the odds against them seeing as Leipzig made their UEFA Champions League debut only in the 2017/18 season, the German side will have a lot of pressure on them as they take on Mourinho’s side.
Leipzig manager noted the pressure that will be on his side tonight as he went on to say the following:
“I get a bit nervous before every game. But this isn’t the most important game in the club’s history. Of course, we want to reach the quarter-finals, but first we need to negotiate the away leg. I have a huge amount of respect for José Mourinho. He’s won lots of titles and been a massive influence on European football.”
Leipzig will be without a lot of their players as Adams, Kampl, Orban and Konate re all out with injuries and Upamecano is currently suspended. Haidara will also have to watch himself in this game as a booking would result in him missing out in the return leg.
The possible line-up for Leipzig stands as follows:
Gulácsi; Mukiele, Klostermann, Halstenberg, Angeliño; Laimer, Haidara; Forsberg, Sabitzer; Werner, Schick
Watch as Tottenhm Spurs take on Leipzig tonight in the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg match.
