MX23RW : Sunday, November 24 05:39:31| >> :120:30719:30719:
[monks data]
Attendance: 71,214
Spurs logo
Champions League | Round of 16
Feb 13, 2019 at 8pm UK
 
Dortmund logo

3-0

Heung-min (47'), Vertonghen (83'), Llorente (86')
FT(HT: 0-0)

5 talking points ahead of Tottenham's Champions League tie with Borussia Dortmund

5 talking points ahead of Tottenham's Champions League tie with Borussia Dortmund
© Reuters
Wembley plays host to the last-16 first leg.

Tottenham continue their Champions League campaign when Borussia Dortmund visit Wembley in the last-16 first leg on Wednesday.

Here Press Association Sport looks at Spurs' talking points ahead of the game.

Rose's fitness a thorn in Spurs' side

Tottenham Hotspur v Leicester City – Premier League – Wembley Stadium
Danny Rose's form is of concern to Spurs (John Walton/PA)

Tottenham will be without an out-and-out left-back as Danny Rose has been deemed not fit enough to start so it looks as if centre-back Jan Vertonghen will have to play there. That is more than likely going to see him up against Jadon Sancho, who has been giving Bundesliga defenders nightmares all season. How the 31-year-old, who is not known for his explosive pace, is going to get on against the teenager is a fascinating battle and could be one of the keys to the outcome of the game.

Kane still not able

Mauricio Pochettino called it from an early point, but there was still a sliver of hope that Harry Kane might have been fit enough to make the bench for Tottenham given his recovery from an ankle injury has gone better than expected. Kane is back in training and looked to be moving well on social media videos he has posted over the last couple of weeks, though when he did not appear during the 15-minute open session at Hotspur Way on Tuesday morning the writing was on the wall. Dele Alli, who is also back in training, is not fit enough either, but both are expected to make it for the second leg.

Son shining

Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle United – Premier League – Wembley Stadium
Son Heung-min has some big boots to fill (Steven Paston/PA)

Son Heung-min has stepped into the limelight in the absence of Kane and Alli and Spurs will again be looking to him at Wembley. The South Korean has bagged 10 goals in his last 11 matches, including three in three which has helped Spurs to nine Premier League points. Son, who used to play in the Bundesliga for Bayer Leverkusen, has happy memories of playing Dortmund. He scored in both matches against them in last season's Champions League group stages as part of a run of eight goals in 10 matches against the German side, and he particularly terrorised them at Wembley last season. Spurs will be desperate for more of the same.

Wembley worry?

Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea – Premier League – Wembley Stadium
Tottenham are still playing their home fixtures at the national stadium (John Walton/PA)

Boss Pochettino has openly admitted that playing at Wembley is beginning to have a negative impact on his side as the wait for their new stadium to open goes on. They have won their last three games there, not in exactly convincing fashion, but attendances have dwindled with just 29,000 fans turning up for the recent midweek win over Watford. Pochettino and Jan Vertonghen have both produced rallying cries in attempt to get the fans to produce an atmosphere that can inspire the team and that will be important as Spurs will want to take a positive result to Dortmund for next month's second leg.

Going one better

Tottenham Hotspur v Juventus – UEFA Champions League – Round of 16 – Second Leg – Wembley Stadium
Tottenham were denied by Juventus last season (Nick Potts/PA)

There was a sense that Spurs blew it last season when they lost to Juventus in the last 16. They had negotiated their way to top spot in a group stage containing Real Madrid and Dortmund and then brought a 2-2 draw back from Juventus in the first leg before conceding two goals in three minutes in the second leg to crash out. On paper this appears an easier tie for Spurs to navigate than the Juve one, though it is also undoubtedly a much sterner test than when facing Dortmund last year. Spurs are yet to win a home knockout game in the Champions League, having drawn against Inter Milan and lost to Juve in previous attempts, so Wednesday would be a good place to start.

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Jonathan Veal, Press Association Sport');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', 'a1847b87-3d82-44b1-bf6b-dad4c9dad4d6');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:club-news,paservice:sport:football,paservice:sport:uk');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': '5 talking points ahead of Tottenham\u2019s Champions League tie with Borussia Dortmund'});

ID:350143: cacheID:350143:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:12100:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Jadon Sancho in action for Borussia Dortmund on October 6, 2018
Read Next:
Mauricio Pochettino not surprised by Jadon Sancho's development at Dortmund
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
6pm
Vikings
@
Bears
6pm
Lions
@
Colts
6pm
Patriots
@
Dolphins
6pm
Buccaneers
@
Giants
6pm
Chiefs
@
Panthers
6pm
Titans
@
Texans
6pm
Cowboys
@
Washington
9.05pm
Broncos
@
Raiders
9.25pm
49ers
@
Packers
9.25pm
Cardinals
@
Seahawks
Tables header RHS

League Phase

TeamPWDLPTS
1Liverpool440012
2Sporting Lisbon431010
3Brest431010
4Inter Milan431010
5Monaco431010
6Barcelona43019
7Dortmund43019
8Aston Villa43019
9Atalanta42208
10Juventus42117
11Lille42117
12Man City42117
13Arsenal42117
14B. Leverkusen42117
15Celtic42117
16Dinamo Zagreb42117
17AC Milan42026
18Bayern42026
19Benfica42026
20Feyenoord42026
21Real Madrid42026
22Brugge42026
23Atletico42026
24PSV41215
25Sparta Prague41124
26Stuttgart41124
27PSG41124
28Shakhtar41124
29Girona41033
30Salzburg41033
31Bologna40131
32RB Leipzig40040
33Sturm Graz40040
34Young Boys40040
35Red Star40040
36Slovan Bratislava40040


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!