Tottenham Hotspur are atop the Premier League table and legitimate title contenders under Jose Mourinho. Having already played 17 matches thanks to their Europa League campaign, fatigue could set in soon.
On Thursday night, Mourinho takes his team up against Ludogorets in the Europa League. Group J is tight with three teams – Spurs, Royal Antwerp, LASK Linz – all deadlocked on six points. Ludogorets are the only team not to tally a win in the group.
"Are you live?! Hey..." 👋 😅 Jose brightening up your morning on this day last year.#THFC ⚪️ #COYS pic.twitter.com/P7h1bvEZpJ— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) November 25, 2020
"Are you live?! Hey..." 👋 😅 Jose brightening up your morning on this day last year.#THFC ⚪️ #COYS pic.twitter.com/P7h1bvEZpJ
Matchday 3 of the Europa League saw Tottenham Hotspur win 3-1 away to Ludogorets. Mourinho played a very strong side with Harry Kane, Lucas Moura and Giovani Lo Celso all scoring.
Tottenham Hotspur are atop Group J due to head-to-head goal difference. They have scored six goals while conceding two times.
Although Ludogorets are at the bottom of Group J, conceding nine times, they have scored five goals. All three of the Bulgarians’ matches in Group J finished with both teams scoring goals and over 2.5 goals scored.
Tottenham Hotspur head into the match on the strength of a four-match winning streak in all competitions. Ludogorets are coming off of a 3-0 win versus CSKA 1948 in their most recent Bulgarian top-flight game.
Mourinho will be without defenders Matt Doherty and Toby Alderweireld. Doherty tested positive for COVID-19 while Alderweireld has a groin issue keeping him out of action. Erik Lamela, Harry Winks and Japhet Tanganga are all three likely to miss the match due to their own injury issues.
Tottenham will face off with Premier League title rivals Chelsea at the weekend. It is a huge game as Spurs come off of an impressive 2-0 home win versus Manchester City. Mourinho could rotate his side and rest key players such as Kane, Heung-min Son, and others.
Spurs players already believe they can win the title this season. The congestion caused by the Europa League could prevent them from actually doing the unthinkable, however.
Thursday night’s game should see both teams score and over 2.5 goals tallied just like their match in Bulgaria at the beginning of the month. Ludogorets trend of both teams scoring and more than 2.5 goals should continue matchday 4.
Kane and Son could get on the scoresheet once more for Spurs. Of course, that will depend on how Mourinho plays the game. Does he start key players for the weekend’s match versus Chelsea or does he rest them?
Expect over 2.5 goals scored, both teams to find the back of the net, and Tottenham Hotspur to win against versus Ludogorets.