TOTTENHAM take on Vitesse Arnhem this evening as Nuno Santo’s side look to cement their position at the top of Group G.
The Premier League side thrashed Mura 5-1 last time out, while the hosts went down 2-1 to French outfit Rennes.
- Kick-off time: 5.45pm BST
- TV channel: BT Sport 1
- Vitesse XI: Schubert, Wittek, Rasmussen, Doekhi, Bazoer, Dasa, Bero, Tronstad, Openda, Frederiksen, Darfalou.
- Tottenham XI: Gollini, Tanganga, Sanchez, Rodon, Davies, Winks, Lo Celso, Dele Alli, Bergwijn, Bryan Gil, Scarlett.
Follow ALL the latest with our live blog below…
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THOMAS TALKS
Vitesse boss Thomas Letsch meanwhile is still wary of the threat Spurs posses, despite resting a number of key players.
He told De Gelderlander: “Spurs have 25 top players to choose from.
“I see no advantage at all in coming up against their so-called second string. The players who we face tonight will be eager to prove themselves.
“They want to get into the normal starting XI.”
VITESSE PREVIEW
Vitesse striker Nikolai Baden Frederiksen is relishing the prospect of coming up against Premier League opponents.
He told Vitesse TV: “We were happy when we reached the group stage. Now we are playing the Champions League finalists from two years ago.”
“We know who they are and have respect for them, but we also want to get a result. It is up to us to find the solutions and the space, and to keep the defence tight.”
COUNTDOWN TO KICK OFF
Less than 45 minutes to go now until the first whistle in Arnhem.
Victory tonight for Spurs puts them in an excellent position to qualify for the knockout stages of the competition.
But there’s no real firepower to bring off the bench if things aren’t going Nuno’s way.
The majority of the big guns have been left at home to rest.
‘PLAYING GOOD FOOTBALL’
Nuno Espirito Santo is pleased of his side’s response since losing in the North London Derby in September.
Spurs have won all three of their games since losing 3-1 at the Emirates.
“I’m very proud of the way we came out of that situation.
“We kept working together, helping each other and I feel we’re improving, getting better, playing better football.
“It’s all about that, playing good football.”
VITESSE SUBS
And here’s a look at the options off the bench for Vitesse.
16 Oroz, 18 Hajek, 19 von Moos, 20 Gboho, 22 Domgjoni, 24 Houwen, 27 Yapi, 29 Buitink, 36 Vroegh, 39 Cornelisse, 40 Huisman, 48 van Haveren
SPURS SUBS
Nuno Espirito Santo’s bench is packed full of youngsters.
40 Austin, 42 White, 43 John, 46 Walcott, 47 Clarke, 50 Cesay, 51 MA Craig, 52 MI Craig, 53 Lyons-Foster, 54 Markanday
VITESSE STARTING XI
And here’s how the hosts line-up this evening.
1 Schubert, 2 Dasa, 3 Doekhi, 6 Rasmussen, 7 Openda, 8 Tronstad, 9 Darfalou, 10 Bazoer, 11 Frederiksen, 21 Bero, 32 Wittek
SPURS STARTING XI
Here is the Tottenham side Nuno Espirito Santo has named for tonight’s clash.
And as expected he does make eleven changes to the side that beat Newcastle on Sunday.
22 Gollini, Tanganga 25, Sanchez 6, Rodon 14, 33 Davies, 8 Winks, 18 Lo Celso, 20 Dele, 23 Bergwijn, 11 Gil, 44 Scarlett
FORM COMPARISON
Here’s a look at how the two sides have fared in recent weeks.
Vitesse have won three, drawn one and lost two of their last six outings, and are currently sixth in the Dutch Eredivisie.
Spurs meanwhile have have won four and lost two in their last six to climb to fifth in the Premier League table.
FIVE MINUTE WARNING
Just five minutes to go now until we find out the team Nuno Espirito Santo will field for tonight’s clash.
Remember not one man who started against Newcastle on Sunday is expected to start tonight.
Nuno Espirito Santo is placing his trust in his youngsters.
GOALS GUARANTEED?
Vitesse have scored in each of the last eight matches they have played in all competitions.
They have scored in every outing since an Eredivisie clash against Ajax all the way back in August.
And they could prove a tough test for Nuno and Co this evening, especially against a weakened Tottenham team.
NUNO’S PREVIEW
Here’s what Nuno Espirito Santo had to say on tonight’s opponents Vitesse.
The Spurs boss said: “They are very aggressive, very dynamic, a back three becomes a back five, not too many gaps and really dangerous on the counter.
“No matter which competition, teams are always tough, especially at home.
“We felt that in France, in Portugal and this will be tough, but I’m really positive about what we want to do in terms of our game, so let’s put our tasks in the game, give freedom to the players, and we will need all our players, just look at the schedule ahead.”
STAGE IS SET
The GelreDome in Arnhem is the venue for tonight’s Europa Conference League clash between Vitesse and Tottenham.
NO RISKS
Nuno Espirito Santo confirmed after the victory at Newcastle that a number of players would be left at home ahead of the trip to West Ham on Sunday.
He said: “We respect all the competitions, we respect all the games.
“And we consider that it’s better for us to start the players that are going to start, leave some players here, work, recover well, so we can be able to compete better on the Sunday, and then we have Wednesday, and over and over again.”
ALL CHANGE
Nuno Espirito Santo is expected to make ELEVEN changes from the side that beat Newcastle on Sunday.
Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son in fact have not even travelled to the Netherlands.
It means Kane can’t add to the hat-trick he bagged against Mura last time out.
It means youngster Dane Scarlett is expected to lead the line for the North Londoners tonight.
AS IT STANDS
Here’s a look at the live Group G table ahead of tonight’s fixtures.
A win tonight would keep Spurs top of the table at the halfway point of the group stages.
LAST TIME OUT
Tottenham’s last game in the Europa Conference League was the 5-1 thrashing against Slovenian minnows Mura.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have won their last two games since then, and will be eager to keep the momentum going tonight.
A Harry Kane hat-trick, as well as goals for Dele Alli and Giovani Lo Celso helped the North Londoners to an easy victory on Matchday Two.
FIRST MEETING
Tonight will be the first meeting ever between Tottenham and Dutch outfit Vitesse.
Spurs fans will have fonds memories of the Netherlands though.
The last time they played on Dutch soil Lucas Moura sent them to the final of the Champions League after a 3-2 win against Ajax.
GOOD EVENING
Welcome to our live blog of the Europa Conference League clash between Tottenham and Vitesse.
Spurs are looking for a fourth consecutive win in all competitions following three wins on the spin.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side come into the game joint-top of Group G with Rennes – having picked up four points from their opening two games.
Vitesse meanwhile have three points after one win and one defeat.
And victory tonight in the Netherlands will put the North Londoners in pole position to qualify as group winners.
In team news Espirito Santo is expected to ring the changes from the 3-2 win against Newcastle on Sunday.
Pierluigi Gollini could start in goal, while Japhet Tanganga, Davinson Sanchez and Ben Davies could all come in to form a new-look backline.
Europa Conference League regulars Dele Alli, Giovani Lo Celso and Harry Winks are all also likely to start.
But it remains to be seen whether Harry Kane keeps his place up front after he netted his first Premier League goal of the season at St James’ Park on Saturday.
Kick off for this evening’s clash is 5.45pm, with full team news coming up in half an hour.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
