Match Previews

country flag Uefa Europa League Round Grp J (4)
Tottenham Hotspur vs. Ludogorets
Thu 26 November 2020 20:00
Referee
Giorgi Kruashvili (GEO)
Weather at KO
weather icon Clear  4oC | Precip: 0% (0 mm) | Wind 1.7 m/s
Travel Info
3 hours plane
Distance
2,014 KM
Venue
No Fans

Tottenham Hotspur

Last updated: Fri 27 November 2020 09:33
In Brief

Have 2 wins in group, but defeat in Belgium means no room for further slip ups. Going from strength to strength domestically, last beat Man City 2:0. Heavy rotation expected. Doherty back after COVID. Alderweireld and Lamela sidelined + Rodon and Gedson ineligible. Winks face late fitness tests.

Looking Back

Tottenham had to work very hard for 3:1 away win vs. Ludogorets, Lilywhites trailed in this match and decisive last 2 goals scored only very late on. Already had one slip up in group (0:1 away loss vs. Antwerp) and really can’t afford to be too complacent.

Confidence will be sky high though as on Saturday Spurs climbed in top spot in Premier League with confident 2:0 home win against Man City. Domestic form impressive for more than 2 months – (W6 D2 L0).

Looking Ahead

Coach Mourinho expected to rotate heavily, with likes of Hart, Sanchez, Lo Celso and Moura regularly starting in Europe. Also Bale could be picked from the off after sitting on bench at weekend.

Hurt vs. City Alderweireld won’t feature. Also Rodon and Gedson not registered to play in Europe. Doherty back after COVID, but still not 100% fit.

Winks could start if he overcomes minor knock on time, but Lamela still training with restrictions after recent knee issue.

Manager Comments

Mourinho on Matt Doherty: "Yeah he's back. By the legal and clinical point of view he's ready. Is he ready to start a match? We don't know. Honestly I still have some work to do with him to understand that, but to participate in the game, playing or being on the bench, it's good,"

Ludogorets

Last updated: Fri 27 November 2020 09:33
In Brief

Squad hit by a big COVID-19 outbreak but most of the infected players are back. Yankov and Despodov should be fit; Iliev and Grigore injury doubts while Higinio and Wanderson are sidelined. Cicinho and Santana ruled out.

Looking Back

Got outclassed by Tottenham at home in a 3:1 loss three weeks ago, suffering a comprehensive third loss in a row while barely posing any danger for the most part. It basically ended any small chance of keeping their hopes of progress alive.

The game against Botev Plovdiv in the league at the weekend was called off after a massive COVID-19 outbreak that has decimated the squad in recent weeks.

Looking Ahead

Due to depart for London for the game against Spurs on Thursday with a lot of question marks regarding who will be available for the game after most of the players got infected in the last two weeks.

Most players are out of quarantine and return for this game but have trained just once and are not especially fit in terms of match practice. Georgi Terziev and Olivier Vedrdon are the ones who were infected most recently but seem like they will be involved as well.

Quite a few injury concerns too as Cicinho and Alex Santana sustained injuries in training and are ruled out.

Plamen Ilev and Dominik Yankov are battling with recent ankle injuries, but the latter seems to be back in the fold.

Dragos Grigore and Kirill Despodov are also injury doubts but Despodov is back training and has a good chance to start. Wanderson and Higinio Martin are sidelined for the long term.

Suspended
  • ---
Unavailable
Doubtful (chance of availability) Rested
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Suspended
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Unavailable
Doubtful (chance of availability) Rested
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Probable Starting 11
Probable Bench
Probable Starting 11
Probable Bench

Ludogorets

Last updated: Fri 27 November 2020 09:33
In Brief

Squad hit by a big COVID-19 outbreak but most of the infected players are back. Yankov and Despodov should be fit; Iliev and Grigore injury doubts while Higinio and Wanderson are sidelined. Cicinho and Santana ruled out.

Looking Back

Got outclassed by Tottenham at home in a 3:1 loss three weeks ago, suffering a comprehensive third loss in a row while barely posing any danger for the most part. It basically ended any small chance of keeping their hopes of progress alive.

The game against Botev Plovdiv in the league at the weekend was called off after a massive COVID-19 outbreak that has decimated the squad in recent weeks.

Looking Ahead

Due to depart for London for the game against Spurs on Thursday with a lot of question marks regarding who will be available for the game after most of the players got infected in the last two weeks.

Most players are out of quarantine and return for this game but have trained just once and are not especially fit in terms of match practice. Georgi Terziev and Olivier Vedrdon are the ones who were infected most recently but seem like they will be involved as well.

Quite a few injury concerns too as Cicinho and Alex Santana sustained injuries in training and are ruled out.

Plamen Ilev and Dominik Yankov are battling with recent ankle injuries, but the latter seems to be back in the fold.

Dragos Grigore and Kirill Despodov are also injury doubts but Despodov is back training and has a good chance to start. Wanderson and Higinio Martin are sidelined for the long term.

Suspended
  • ---
Unavailable
Doubtful (chance of availability) Rested
  • ---
Probable Starting 11
Probable Bench

Key

Key players
Regular players
Support players
75% - Chance of availability
Artificial Pitch
Universal Player Grid
Squad Confirmed
Played in Cup fixture
New Information

Team Strength*

Excellent
Good
Satisfactory
Just Adequate
Poor
*Based on Available Players
Game Score
Round Grp D (3)
SL Benfica - Rangers 3 - 3
Round Grp D (4)
Rangers - SL Benfica 2 - 2
Round Grp J (4)
Tottenham Hotspur - Ludogorets 4 - 0
Round Grp G (5)
Zorya Luhansk - Leicester City 1 - 0
Round Grp D (5)
Rangers - Standard Liege 3 - 2
Round Grp F (6)
Napoli - Real Sociedad 1 - 1
Round Grp H (6)
Celtic - Lille OSC 3 - 2
Round 1/2 Final (2)
Arsenal - Villarreal 0 - 0