Qarabag vs Tottenham: Preview & Prediction

Tottenham Hotspur travel to Azerbaijan knowing that a win against Qarabag would secure their place in the last-32 of the Europa League.

Spurs currently sit a point ahead of Monaco and three ahead of their hosts and Anderlecht in Group J with two matches remaining.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side arrive in Baku having lost just once in their last 10 games in all competitions and after extending their unbeaten run in the Premier League to 13 matches, following their 4-1 thrashing of West Ham on Sunday.

The Argentine boss faces a difficult decision as to whether his side will return to the capital straight after the match or on Friday morning, with his side hosting Chelsea in another big London derby on Sunday.

In Europe, Tottenham will be pleased with their performances so far having picked up three points against Qarabag and Anderlecht, while grabbing a valuable point away to Monaco. Their only defeat came in Belgium last month.

Qarabag sit nine points clear at the top of their domestic league and are undefeated at home in their last 19 matches having drawn with Monaco and defeated Anderlecht.

Team News:

Nabil Bentaleb has been ruled out due to an ankle injury, while Erik Lamela is also sidelined.

Fellow midfielders Nacer Chadli and Alex Pritchard are long-term absentees, while Kyle Walker, Danny Rose and Mousa Dembele were not on the six-hour flight to the Azerbaijani capital.

Youngsters Harry Winks, Josh Onomah, Shayon Harrison, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Luke McGee could all feature having travelled with the squad.

Harry Kane is not expected to start, with Pochettino intending to save him for the clash with Chelsea.

Qarabag attacker Richard Almeida de Oliveira, who has 10 goals in all competitions this term, is one Spurs will need to keep an eye on.

Group Position: Qarabag – 3rd (4 pts); Tottenham Hotspur – 1st (7 pts)
Last Meeting: Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 Qarabag, September 17, 2015
Key Men: Qarabag – Richard Almeida de Oliveira; Tottenham Hotspur – Heung-min Son
Form (all competitions): Qarabag – WWLWLD; Tottenham Hotspur – LWWWDW
Shoot Says: Qarabag 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur