Europa League: Tottenham v Inter Milan match preview

A look ahead to tonight’s Europa League fixture at White Hart Lane

The previous games played between Tottenham and Inter Milan in the Champions League suggests that this game could include more than a few goals at either end.

Tottenham have not lost in their last seven matches and their 2-1 win over local rivals Arsenal will fill the team and fans with belief. Gareth Bale has been on everybody’s lips over the past few weeks with his quality goals, and if Inter allow him to run at an unprotected back three or allow him any space around their box then it could be a long night for the Italian side. His hat-trick against them at the San Siro in 2010 will not have been forgotten.

Inter have won five of their six away games in Europe this season, scoring three goals on more than four occasions. Travelling fans will hope that Rodrigo Palacio can give them a few goals to cheer about at White Hart Lane after his last minute strike earned his side all three points in their last game against Cantania.

KICK-OFF: Thursday, 8:05pm

PAST MEETINGS…

Tottenham 3 (Van der Vaart, Crouch, Pavlyuchenko) Inter 1 (Eto’o), Champions League, November 2010

Inter 4 (J.Zanetti, Eto’o 2, Stankovic) Tottenham 3 (Bale 3), Champions League, October 2010

STATS…

Tottenham are one of the only teams that are still unbeaten after eight matches in the competition, along with Italian club Lazio who qualified in the same group.

Inter, along with FC Viktoria Plzen, are the highest scoring club left in this seasons UEFA Europa League so far, with 16 goals each since the start of the group stage.

Tottenham and Inter are 2 of the 3 clubs left in the competition that have had previous success in the UEFA Cup, with Spurs winning it in 1972 and 1984 and Inter winning the competition in 1991,1994 and 1998.

Tottenham’s Gareth Bale has only failed to score in one game since the 30 of January, which was in their last Europa League game against Lyon.

Inter striker Rodrigo Palacio has scored 5 goals in 5 games since the group stages and is the competitions second top goal scorer. 

ODDS…

Tottenham to win: 1.7

Inter to win: 4.8

Draw: 3.7

TV: Live on ITV 1 at 8:05pm, highlights on ITV 4 on Friday at 5:55pm.