The game against Leipzig (Wednesday) is an important game in the Spurs calendar. If we’ve got any chance of progressing any further, we must get a result against them at our stadium. Unfortunately, not only have we got Kane out, but also it has just been reported that Son is out through an injury he sustained against Villa (a fractured arm).
Jose Mourinho is hoping that the absence of key players means RB Leipzig will underestimate his side in their Champions League last-16 tie. Somehow I don’t think they will. Mourinho’s tactical skills will undoubtedly be tested for this match. Who he plays upfront will be very interesting.
As I said, we will be without our first-choice forward line with Son Heung-min now joining Harry Kane on the sidelines. Son has had surgery on a broken arm and could miss the rest of the season.
We reached the final of the competition last season, losing to Liverpool in Madrid. We are currently on a seven-game unbeaten run in all competitions.
Leipzig, however, are second in Germany’s Bundesliga, just a point behind leaders Bayern Munich. They also boast one of the most in-form strikers in Europe in Timo Werner, who has scored 25 times in 31 appearances in all competitions this season.
Leipzig do have defensive issues
The German team are enjoying their second Champions League campaign, with 32-year-old coach Julian Nagelsmann steering them to the last 16 for the first time in his debut season in charge. They set a new Bundesliga record on Saturday by scoring three goals or more for a ninth top-flight game in a row.
However, Nagelsmann has selection issues of his own, at centre-back, where Dayot Upamecano is suspended and Ibrahima Konate and Willi Orban are injured. All this could mean that on-loan Chelsea defender Ethan Ampadu starts.
Match stats
Head-to-head
This will be the first encounter between Tottenham and RB Leipzig. It’s also the first time the team from Leipzig faces an English club in a competitive fixture, while Spurs will be facing German opposition in the UCL last 16 for the second consecutive season, after knocking out Borussia Dortmund 4-0 on aggregate in 2018-19.
The only previous game between Tottenham and a German team at the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium ended in a 7-2 win for Bayern Munich, in October this season. Tottenham’s two Champions League games against German opposition this season have produced 13 goals.
The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has seen more goals than any other venue in this season’s Champions League (20 goals; 11 for Tottenham, 9 against).
Tottenham
Losing finalists in 2018-19, Tottenham are in the knockout stages of the Champions League for the third consecutive season – they had only made it past the group phase once before (2010-11).
Tottenham conceded 14 goals in this season’s Champions League group phase, the highest tally among the remaining teams in the competition. Half of those goals came in their 7-2 home game defeat against Bayern Munich.
Only one of Tottenham’s 21 Champions League home games has ended in a draw (0-0 v AC Milan, March 2011).
Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho last made it past the last 16 of the Champions League six years ago, leading Chelsea to the semi-finals in 2013-14. It’s also nearly 10 years since he last reached the final, with Inter Milan in 2010.
Injured Tottenham forward Son has scored nine goals in his last 10 Champions League starts. In the knockout stages with Spurs, his record is five goals in seven starts.
RB Leipzig
RB Leipzig have reached the Champions League knockout stages for the first time in their history. Wolfsburg are the last German team – outside of Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund – to make it past the last 16, back in 2015-16.
RB Leipzig lost their first two Champions League away games but are since unbeaten in their last four matches on the road (W3 D1), scoring 10 goals.
Between them, Timo Werner (6) and Emil Forsberg (5) have scored over half of RB Leipzig’s all-time goals in the Champions League (55%, 11 out of 20).
So, there you have it. Being optimistic, I am going for either a 1-0 or 2-1 win.
COYS!
My name is Glenn Renshaw.
I am currently a Premium Season Ticket holder (West Stand) in the new stadium. Before that – at White Hart Lane – a season ticket holder in various parts of the ground (mainly in the North stand).
Before becoming a season ticket holder, I stood on the shelf and various other parts of the ground since the 1950s. In 1987 I became one of the first to hold a Spurs Membership card. I was also a life long member of the Spurs supporters club (now defunct).
I go to all home, away and abroad matches.
I was born in 1955, Edgware, London (it was in the late 50s – as a baby – that my dad took me to Spurs to initiate me). I currently live in Berkshire.
I also collect all Spurs books (and have everyone printed), Spurs handbooks (from 1920s onwards, Spurs programmes (since the 40s).
Previously, I wrote for Spurs Fanzines: The Spur, Spur of the Moment, My Eyes have seen the Glory and various other Spurs fanzines’. I also wrote for the SpursWeb app & its website.
I currently write and work for spursnetwork.com and its website. I write its Reviews & Match reports and a lot more.
My other interests are; reading, history, social history, Politics, going to the gym, wine, going out for a meal, music (all sorts), writing, theatre, concerts, going on holidays, socialising etc.
I have been writing blogs/ articles since 1989
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