The Champions League is back this week marking a return to the competition for Tottenham.
After last year’s Premier League exploits the Lilywhites find themselves in a very winnable group consisting of Monaco, CSKA Moscow and Bayer Leverkusen whilst they’ll also have the backing of a Spurs-fan filled Wembley Stadium for their home games.
How Mauricio Pochettino’s team get on is going to be of interest given their relatively young nature. A lot was made of the squad’s low average age as they challenged for the title last season but the Champions League is a completely different proposition.
Inevitably of this Spurs squad though, they will be confident. Pochettino will remind his players that they deserve to be here after last year’s exploits and to make the most of the opportunity they have in front of them.
They’re coming into the game in good form too, after a 4-0 win at Stoke and we at FootballFanCast think they should be able to get three points tonight. Here’s the line-up Spurs should go with with this in mind…
Hugo Lloris
Hugo Lloris is back from his injury and will start against Monaco. He’s a world class stopper and will be key to anything Spurs hope to achieve in this season’s competition.
Kyle Walker
Walker looks to have carried on in the same fashion as last year, flying up and down the wing. Whether he gets caught out more against continental opposition remains to be seen but regardless, he will start.
Toby Alderweireld
Spurs’ best defender and one of the Premier League’s best, this is the stage he has been waiting for at club level. The Belgian found time at Atletico Madrid limited so this is now his moment to show he can mix it with the best.
Jan Vertonghen
As good as Alderweireld is though, he wouldn’t be at his level if he didn’t have his compatriot alongside. The Belgian partnership needs to be at its best for Spurs to progress.
Ben Davies
With Danny Rose still out injured the former Swansea man should get another chance to impress. He performed well against Stoke on Saturday so Pochettino will be expecting more of the same.
Eric Dier
In that holding role Dier is getting stronger and stronger and this latest step up to Europe’s elite competition could be his final test. If he can perform here Spurs will be looking good.
Victor Wanyama
Mousa Dembele is eligible to start in this game but with the lack of match-fitness he must have Pochettino will likely go with Victor Wanyama as he has done so far this season.
Erik Lamela
Lamela is now a key part of the way Spurs play after an initially slow start and will once again go down Spurs’ right looking to cut inside.
Christian Eriksen
Meanwhile, down the left is Christian Eriksen who seems rejuvenated after signing a contract extension. On his day he has the ability to pull the strings and Spurs will need him to do so in Europe.
Dele Alli
Alli scored in the win against Stoke and this game will mark the latest step in a meteoric rise for the England man. How he performs in Europe against the best could define him as a player.
Harry Kane
Kane found his goal-scoring touch at last against Stoke so Monaco need to be wary. Now that duck is broken the England man is bound to start firing, just in time for Spurs.
