Europa League: Tottenham v Lyon match preview
A look ahead to tonight’s Europa League fixture at White Hart Lane
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Your support makes all the difference.Brad Friedel and Emmanuel Adebayor look set to return to the starting line-up as Tottenham take on French club Lyon in the last 32 of the Europa League. The news means that former Lyon goalkeeper Hugo Lloris is unlikely to feature against his former club, who finished top of Group I to qualify for the knockout stages.
With Jermaine Defoe still on the side-line with an ankle injury, Andre Villas-Boas will look to Adebayor to lead his attack, despite the Togo international scoring just three times for his club this season. Tom Huddlestone is also ruled out with a knee injury, adding to long-term injuries Younes Kaboul and Sandro.
Former Spurs player Steed Malbranque is likely to feature, with the Belgian-born Frenchman spending two seasons at White Hart Lane from 2006 till 2008. Lyon manager Remi Garde returns to north London, the former France international finishing his career at Spurs’ fierce rivals Arsenal.
KICK-OFF: 8.05pm
PAST MEETINGS...
Tottenham 4 (Greaves 2, Jones, Gilzean) Lyon 3 (Di Nallo, Rambert, Bouassa), UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, December 1967.
Lyon 1 (Di Nallo) Tottenham 0, UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, November 1967
MATCH FACTS...
Lyon have met English opposition on 14 occasions, but have only taken away three wins, compared to Spurs’ two out of four record against French teams.
Spurs (W2 D4) and Lyon (W5 D1) are both unbeaten in all six of their European games this season after entering at the group stage.
Spurs won the inaugural UEFA Cup in 1971/72 and reclaimed the trophy in 1983/84, and could become the fourth side to win this competition for a third time, along with Juventus, Inter Milan and Liverpool.
The winner over the two legs could face either Inter Milan or CRF Cluj. Should both Spurs and Inter progress, it would be a repeat of the 2010/11 Champions League group stage, where Gareth Bale’s famous hat-trick was not enough for victory as Tottenham went down 4-3 at the San Siro.
Lyon currently sit second in Ligue 1, six points behind leaders Paris Saint-Germain.
ODDS...
Tottenham to win: 1.78
Lyon to win: 5.4
Draw: 3.85
TV: Live on ITV at 8.05pm.
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