Tottenham vs IF Elfsborg: Live Stream, Prediction & Lineups
Tottenham Hotspur will aim to secure a strong finish in the UEFA Europa League group stage as they host IF Elfsborg at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Thursday night. Ange Postecoglou’s side has already sealed their place in the knockout rounds but will be determined to claim all three points to finish among the competition’s top eight and head straight to the Round of 16.
Current Form
Tottenham head into this fixture on the back of a surprising Premier League defeat to Leicester City. With injuries affecting the squad and domestic form faltering, the Europa League offers Spurs an opportunity to regain confidence. They sit comfortably with 14 points in their group after seven matches, boasting one of the tournament’s best attacking records with 14 goals scored so far.
Meanwhile, Elfsborg, 20th in the overall Europa League rankings, has found some form after a slow start. Consecutive wins, including an impressive victory over OGC Nice, have kept their knockout hopes alive. A draw in this match would secure Elfsborg’s first-ever appearance in the tournament’s knockout rounds, giving them plenty to fight for.
Team News and Predicted Lineups
Tottenham Hotspur
Injuries remain a concern for Ange Postecoglou’s side, with Guglielmo Vicario, Destiny Udogie, James Maddison, Cristian Romero, and Micky van de Ven still unavailable. Richarlison is also a doubt after being substituted against Leicester.
The Spurs manager is expected to stick with a 4-3-3 formation. Brandon Austin will likely deputize in goal, with Pedro Porro and young Archie Gray occupying the full-back positions. Ben Davies and Radu Dragusin should form the central defensive partnership.
In midfield, Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur will anchor the play, supported by the young Lucas Bergvall. Dejan Kulusevski and Mikey Moore will provide width, while captain Son Heung-min leads the attack. Moore, the 17-year-old rising star, will look to capitalize on the opportunities provided by Spurs’ injury crisis and showcase his potential.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3):
Austin; Porro, Dragusin, Davies, Gray; Bissouma, Bentancur, Bergvall; Kulusevski, Son, Moore
Elfsborg
Elfsborg have a fully fit squad and are expected to name a similar lineup to the one that defeated OGC Nice. Manager Jimmy Thelin will stick to a 3-4-3 formation, with Isak Pettersson starting in goal. Ibrahim Buhari, Sebastian Holmén, and Terry Yegbe will form a solid back three.
Simon Hedlund and Niklas Hult will operate as wing-backs, tasked with contributing both defensively and offensively. Besfort Zeneli and Timothy Ouma will anchor the midfield, looking to disrupt Spurs’ rhythm. Up front, Arber Zeneli and Gottfrid Rapp will flank Jalal Abdullai, who leads the line.
Probable Lineup (3-4-3):
Pettersson; Buhari, Holmén, Yegbe; Hedlund, B. Zeneli, Ouma, Hult; A. Zeneli, Abdullai, Rapp
Key Stats
- Tottenham will face Swedish opposition for the first time since their 2-1 defeat to Östers IK in the 1995 Intertoto Cup.
- This will be the first-ever meeting between Tottenham and Elfsborg.
- Elfsborg have lost all three of their away Europa League matches this season.
- Spurs have scored 14 goals in the competition, the fourth-highest tally this season.
- Ange Postecoglou’s side has managed only two clean sheets in their last 11 matches across all competitions.
Player to Watch: Mikey Moore
With injuries to several key players, 17-year-old Mikey Moore has been thrust into the spotlight. The young winger has already contributed two assists for the senior team but is still awaiting his first goal. Facing Elfsborg, Moore will have the perfect stage to demonstrate his immense potential and further cement his place in Postecoglou’s plans.
Tottenham vs IF Elfsborg Prediction
Tottenham will look to bounce back from their domestic struggles and put on a dominant display at home. Elfsborg have shown improvement in recent weeks, but their away record in the Europa League remains poor. Spurs’ attacking firepower, led by Son Heung-min and supported by the in-form Dejan Kulusevski, should prove too much for the Swedish side.
Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 IF Elfsborg
Tottenham vs IF Elfsborg Live Stream
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