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UEFA Europa League Round of 16, Game 2
Thursday, 17 March, 20:05
The Lane

All eyes are on Tottenham Hotspur with keen interest to see if 2015/16 will see them win their first league title since the 1960/61 season. That’s a long to time to wait for a team with such caliber, history and good financial management as Spurs. BUT: Lest not forgot Tottenham where the first British club to win a UEFA club competition, namely, the European Cup Winner’s Cup.

Thursday match against Borussia Dortmund serves as excellent practice in the European arena for what should be a secure place in the Champions League for next season. Dortmund have a relatively new manager after the departure of Jergen Klopp to Liverpool FC at the start of the current season. Dortmund’s fans do not need to cast their memories back as far as Tottenham’s supports to reminisce over former glories, because, Klopp led them to back to back Bundesliga wins in 2011 and 2012, earning him German football manager of the year.

How have Dormund been doing without Klopp?

Pretty well taking into account Dortmund’s Europa League game 1 clash with Tottenham, played at home, 10th March, that ended 3 – 0 in favour of the Germans. Dortmund also come on the coat tails of a win over Mainz in the Bundesliga where and 80 year old fan died in the stands after having a heart attack! The players not fettered by this continued on to win the match (but not knowing a supporter had died). They have won 4 and drawn 1 in their last 5 domestic league matches, and, won 3 and lost 2 in the Europa Leauge. Similar to Tottenham Dortmund are second in the Bundesliga.

What about Tottenham Hotspur?

Almost as impressive in their domestic league: winning the last 3 matches, drawing 1 time, and losing once. Similarly to Dortmund they have won 3, drawn 1, and lost 1 in the Europa League. Thursday’s match may see a re-run of Tottenham’s performance against Anderlecht where they lost the first game played in Germany and won the match played at White Heart Lane. On the bench for Hotspur includes, Vorm, Carter-Vickers, Walker, Bentaleb, Dembele, Lamela, and Kane.

Kevin Wimmer is playing instead of Jan Vertonghen. Wimmer’s experience in the Bundesliga playing for Cologne and the partnership with Toby Alderweireld may be what’s needed to keep Dortmund’s live-wire Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at bay. Tottenham have led from the back this season by conceding a relatively low number of goals. With a strong defense and a good partnership in Midfield Hotspur may have what it takes – in the absence of their big named strikers like Kane.

Will Tottenham bounce back at the return leg, or, will they be distracted by a very tempting Barclays Premiership Title. You decide. Our preferred partner is Betfair.

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