Tottenham host Red Star looking to recover from Bayern demolition

After a humbling 7-2 defeat at the hands of Bayern Munich last time out in Group B, Tottenham host Red Star seeking to get their qualification hopes back on track.

Tottenham sit third in the table heading into the fixture after a draw away to Olympiakos and that embarrassing defeat to Bayern. Red Star are one place above after recovering from defeat against Bayern to beat Olympiakos in Serbia 3-1.

The visitors have never picked up a point in any of their four Champions League away games however and won’t be helped a ban placed upon their supporters preventing them from travelling to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The Serbian champions have won their last six fixtures and will be full of confidence as they look to exploit a Tottenham team in crisis.

Mauricio Pochettino’s men have achieved just one win in their last five but will hope a confident performance in front of their own fans could provide the springboard to normality resuming.

Team news

Tottenham have welcomed back three players into first team training this week with Christian Eriksen, Giovani Lo Celso and Ryan Sessegnon taking part in sessions at Hotspur Way.

Pochettino will be hope Danish playmaker Eriksen can feature although the fixture may come too soon for summer signings Lo Celso and Sessegnon.

The home side also remain without goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.

Red Star only have one main concern ahead of the match with striker Richmond Boayke likely to miss the fixture for the visitors.

Mauricio Pochettino was quick to alleviate any fears his team may take Tuesday’s opponents lightly:

“In the Champions League you need to respect every opponent. It’s a different competition and they all have quality. Respect is most important. We are in a situation now where we need to improve and to be focussed on ourselves. We always try to focus on us and in this period, even more. Red Star have very good players, a very good squad and will be dangerous and if we are not ready to compete at our best it will always be difficult. Every game is important, and we need to recover our best feelings, play a solid game and try to win.”

Red star manager Vladan Milojevic spoke pre-match about his team’s chances as well as the ban currently imposed on Red Star fans:

“Bayern and Tottenham are two teams in their structure in the last couple of years they are absolutely the favourites. I’m sorry our supporters are not here in London. We are going to give our best and play a good match. We have good respect for every team. We will play our game and they will not be able to step us. That’s my philosophy.”

Head-to-head

The two teams have only met twice in the 1972/73 UEFA Cup where Spurs won a home leg 2-0 before advancing despite a 1-0 defeat away in Serbia.

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