Seeing the revival of Manchester United last night in the Champions League, Tim Sherwood will have been given hope that a miracle could happen in Spurs’ favour tonight, as they seek to overturn a 3-1 deficit at the Estadio da Luz.
Just as United fans will hope their own victory will spark a return to form, Sherwood’s side require a similar injection of energy, into a season which has lacked in life from the start.
Defensive woes include centre-halves Kaboul, Dawson, Chiriches and Vertonghen, but this will be the least of their worries. As a side who have struggled to score consistently this year, they will need at least three away goals to progress to the quarter finals.
Spurs were unable to transform their spectacular turnaround against Dnipro in the last round into a lasting run of form, and Benfica will certainly provide a sterner challenge.
The seasoned Portuguese outfit have been beaten only once domestically this year, and have few injury worries, other than centre-back Silvio. It was his defensive partner Luisao who struck twice against Spurs in the first leg, but firepower in the form of Oscar Cardozo, Rodrigo and Chelsea-target Lazar Markovic will mean Tottenham cannot afford to go all-out attacking in this tie.
Over in Italy, defensive worries are also crippling Antonio Conte as he looks to progress against domestic rivals Fiorentina.
With Caceres, Bonucci and Chiellini out, and others struggling for fitness, Conte’s side have left themselves needing to score away to La Viola, as Fiorentina’s 20 million pound man Mario Gomez struck only his second goal for the club, since his move from European champions Bayern Munich last summer.
The German forward will be hoping this can start a run of form in time to secure a World Cup place this summer, as Vincenzo Montella is left with few other attacking options for the tie, with Guiseppe Rossi, Joaquin and Mati Fernandez ruled out. The tie looks set to be one of the most enthralling of the round.
Fellow Italians Napoli need to overturn a one goal deficit against Porto at the Stadio San Paolo, as a Jackson Martinez goal has left Rafa Benitez needing a home win to qualify.
Both sides have ‘keepers on the long-term injury list, but otherwise strong matchday squads mean the tie will be hard to call.
Elsewhere, Betis take a strong two-goal away advantage into their home tie against fellow-Spaniards Sevilla, while Valencia and Lyon also hold leads which should see them through to the quarter finals.
AZ Alkmaar will try to hold onto a one-goal advantage over struggling Russian side Anzhi, while it’s all to play for between Salzburg and Basel in Austria, following a 0-0 draw in the first leg.
Jamie Kirby
Image courtesy of The Telegraph