UCL Match Preview : Tottenham vs Monaco

naijabet.com

Moussa Dembele is available to face Monaco in Tottenham’s opening Champions League group game on Wednesday.

Spurs received a boost on Tuesday when they confirmed a new five-year contract for midfielder Eric Dier.

Dembele’s availability is further good news for Mauricio Pochettino, although the Tottenham manager will be without Danny Rose, who is still recovering from a knock suffered on England duty.

These two teams met each other for the first time in last season’s Europa League group stage, with Spurs winning 4-1 at White Hart Lane.

Wednesday’s game will see a change of venue, though, as Tottenham host Monaco at Wembley due to the continuing development of their new stadium in north London.

Team news

Spurs welcome back Dembele, who has missed the first four games of the campaign due to a domestic ban carried over from last season.

He received the suspension for violent conduct after clashing with Chelsea striker Diego Costa during the 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge.

Pochettino may look to ease the Belgium international back into action from the bench, while Moussa Sissoko is in contention to feature and Rose is out.

Opta stats

Tottenham have won one of their last five Champions League games (1-0 v AC Milan in February 2011), drawing two and losing two.

Tottenham are the first team since Arsenal to play their Champions League home games at Wembley. The Gunners did it in the 1998/99 and 1999/00 group stages, winning only two of their six games (D1 L3).

This is Monaco’s seventh Champions League campaign. Only Lyon (14), Marseille and Paris SG (9) have more among French clubs.

Monaco have reached the knockout stages in five of their previous six Champions League campaigns, including the final in 2004 (0-3 v Porto).

Eight of Monaco’s last nine Champions League goals have been scored in the second half.

Monaco have also conceded only one goal in their last eight group games in the Champions League, against Benfica in November 2014.

Erik Lamela scored four goals in two games against Monaco in last season’s Europa League, including a first-half hat-trick at White Hart Lane.

NAIJABET ODD

Group E favourites Tottenham are 1.8 with niajabet to make a winning start to their Champions League campaign, with Monaco 4.84 outsiders while the draw is priced at 3.76

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