Tottenham Hotspur vs CSKA Moscow. UEFA Champions League Group E.
Wembley StadiumAttendance62,034.
Wednesday 7 December 2016 19:59, UK
Tottenham will seal qualification for the Europa League if they avoid defeat against CSKA Moscow in their final Champions League Group E game at Wembley.
Defeat away at Monaco on last time out ensured Mauricio Pochettino's side would not be featuring in the last-16 of Europe's elite-club competition, with the French side and Bayer Leverkusen progressing at their expense.
However, after what has been a disappointing campaign on the continent, Spurs have the chance to salvage some pride when they host CSKA in a straight shoot-out for European football.
Spurs' only victory in this season's competition came against the Russian champions, with Heung-Min Son sealing a 1-0 win in Moscow.
Only a victory will see CSKA leapfrog Spurs into third spot and pinch Europa League football - a feat Leonid Slutsky's men are yet to achieve.
Team news
Spurs welcome defender Toby Alderweireld back after his 10-game stint on the sidelines with a knee injury.
The Belgium international, who last featured in October's 1-1 draw at West Brom, is fit enough for a place on the bench at Wembley.
Pochettino's attacking options will be depleted, though, with Erik Lamela and Vincent Janssen missing.
Lamela is unavailable while Janssen and Ben Davies are both still recovering from ankle injuries.
CSKA boss Slutsky has a full squad at his disposal ahead of the trip to London, with no injuries or suspensions to contend with.
Champions League stats
Tottenham have won four of their six previous encounters with Russian clubs in all competitions, drawing one and losing one (1-0 away defeat v Rubin Kazan in the 2011/12 Europa League) while at home, they're unbeaten (W2 D1).
CSKA have won only one of their six away games against English opposition in the Champions League (D2 L3), a 2-1 victory over Man City in Nov 2013.
CSKA have also failed to keep a clean sheet in their last nine Champions League games against English clubs.
Tottenham have failed to score more than one goal in each of their last nine Champions League games. In this season's group stages, only three of Tottenham's 58 shots have found the back of the net (5 per cent).
Tottenham have also only won one of their last eight Champions League games (D2 L5), which came away against CSKA this season (1-0).
Tottenham have lost their two Champions League home games at Wembley this season. In their only previous participation in 2010/11, they had won all three of their home group games at White Hart Lane.
Charlie's prediction
It's one these situations again where we talk about momentum. It's been a pretty awkward few weeks but I don't think Spurs have been playing poorly.
They did well in the first half against Chelsea, played well at the Emirates and Harry Kane is scoring goals again which is going to give them belief. There's also a wee bit of a pick-me-up in the contracts getting signed.
There will be a bit of anger coming through from how poor they've been in the Champions League, especially at Wembley.
Dele Alli is starting to annoy me with his diving and he clearly believes he's not actually diving when he gets the slightest touch. That aside, I can't see anything other than a convincing Tottenham win.
CHARLIE PREDICTS: 3-0 and Kane to score first (25/1 with Sky Bet)
Tottenham are 8/15 with Sky Bet to secure third spot by securing the victory and 16/5 to do so with a draw, as CSKA Moscow go up against odds of 11/2. Spurs' Europa League odds have already been priced up, with Sky Bet offering them at odds of 8/1 with bets voided if they slip up at Wembley again. Harry Kane heads the first goalscorer at 3/1 with Lacina Traore and Fedor Chalov considered the visitors' main threats at 17/2 apiece.
