Besiktas v Tottenham: Top two to cancel each other out

Besiktas will miss the injured Demba Ba

Besiktas and Tottenham have already qualified for the last 32, and Kevin Hatchard believes we might not be set for much Turkish delight...

Besiktas v Tottenham
Thursday December 11, 18:00
Live on ITV4

It's not always been the most convincing campaign for Spurs under their new boss Mauricio Pochettino (some Tottenham fans will be accusing me of a massive understatement there), but they have negotiated their Europa League group with a game to spare, and are now unbeaten in 18 group-stage matches in this competition. The Lilywhites will secure top spot in their group if they avoid defeat in Turkey against Besiktas, although winning your section in the Europa League isn't quite as important as it seems to be in the Champions League.

Besiktas qualified for the last 32 in shaky fashion last time out, as they drew 2-2 at Asteras Tripolis. It all started fairly well, as the Black Eagles went 2-0 up in an hour. However, the Greeks hit back to level at 2-2 as Besiktas' influential midfielder Atiba Hutchinson was sent off, and Slaven Bilic's men had to hold on for a point.

Besiktas have won two and drawn three of their group games, including a hard-fought 1-1 stalemate at White Hart Lane. Bilic has made Besiktas in his own rugged image - they are tough to beat, but they find it tough to force the issue in attack against good teams. For example, they had Arsenal on the ropes in their Champions League qualifying tie, but couldn't land the knockout blow. They'll struggle to do damage in this game too, as their best striker Demba Ba has a broken toe, and his fellow forward Mustafa Pektemek is also sidelined.

Spurs have a hectic domestic schedule on the horizon, and Pochettino has declared he will shuffle his pack. Right-back Kyle Walker could make his first appearance since March, but striker Emmanuel Adebayor has been given permission to travel to his home country of Togo for personal reasons.

I suspect the home crowd will demand an initial surge from Besiktas, but if Spurs can resist that, I can see this clash losing intensity pretty quickly. I was initially tempted by a dart at the home side, but the absences of Hutchinson and Ba are damaging, especially the latter. Besiktas have scored ten goals in the group stage, and the former Chelsea and Newcastle forward has been involved in six of them. Spurs need a point to top the section, and I think they can get it.

Recommended Bet
Back the draw at 3.45n/a

2014/15 Europa League P/L (1pt per bet)

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