Men against Boys - Spurs get Swiss side Young Boys in Champions League

Tottenham's first European Cup match for almost half a century will be against Swiss side Young Boys following today's Champions League play-off round draw.

Spurs will face the Bern outfit, who they have never previously met, over two legs for a place in the lucrative group stage.

Tottenham's last foray in Europe's premier club competition came in the 1961-62 season.

It was a dream draw for Harry Redknapp's men, who avoided much tougher teams in the shape of Sampdoria, Dynamo Kiev, Auxerre and Celtic's conquerors Braga.

Last term saw Spurs finally fulfil their ambition of breaking into the Barclays Premier League top four, thereby securing a coveted Champions League spot.

The first leg of their play-off round tie will take place in Bern on August 17/18, with the second leg at White Hart Lane the following Tuesday or Wednesday. Although the easiest draw on paper, Young Boys are not to be underestimated, having stunned Fenerbahce by winning 1-0 in Istanbul in the previous round.

Last term's Swiss runners-up are also well into their domestic season, which kicked off on July 17, although they have failed to win any of their opening three games.

Their squad includes an Enfield-born Spurs fan in Scott Sutter, who moved to Switzerland aged 16.

Tottenham's only previous European meeting with Swiss opposition ended in a 9-1 aggregate win over Grasshoppers in the 1973-74 UEFA Cup.

The full draw for the UEFA Champions League play-off round is as follows:

Salzburg v Hapoel Tel-Aviv

Rosenborg v FC Copenhagen

Basle v FC Sheriff

Sparta Prague v MSK Zilina

Partizan Belgrade v Anderlecht

Young Boys v Tottenham

Braga v Sevilla

Werder Bremen v Sampdoria

Zenit St v Petersburg v Auxerre

Dynamo Kiev v Ajax

Ties will be played August 17/18 and 24/25.

Independent Comment
blog comments powered by Disqus
Career Services

Day In a Page

Special report: Tamil asylum-seekers to be forcibly deported

Special report

Tamil asylum-seekers to be forcibly deported
The problem with social mobility

The problem with social mobility

Politicians who say they want to break down Britain's social barriers have been told to unlock closed-shop professions – starting in their own backyard
France's sixth biggest city* goes to the polls (*that's London, by the way)

France's sixth biggest city* goes to the polls (*that's London, btw)

Next month expats in the stronghold of South Kensington will have a big say in who is returned as the first French overseas MP
Aftershock: How Haiti's quake hit the whole of Hispaniola

Aftershock: How Haiti's quake hit the whole of Hispaniola

Two years on from the disaster that shook the Caribbean state, its eastern neighbour, the Dominican Republic, fears a new wave of illegal immigrants could hurt its economy
Mean streets at the movies

Mean streets at the movies

Plan B's new film explores the urban tensions that led to last summer's riots – and he's not the only one finding cinematic inspiration in social unrest
Romney hits the magic number, but his smartphone app fails crucial spelling test

Romney hits the magic number...

... but his smartphone app fails crucial spelling test
Car-crash TV: Ferrari quits news after gaffes, rows and poor ratings

Car-crash TV: Ferrari quits news after gaffes, rows and poor ratings

Weeks after the demise of Sarkozy, the TF1 star he's said to have dated finds herself out of office too
Meet your doctor (please don't unplug it)

Meet your doctor (please don't unplug it)

Can a network of hi-tech terminals and online medics make the connection?
The 10 Best cycling gear

The 10 Best cycling gear

It’s summer, it's sunny... it’s the perfect time to get on your bike.
Song of the suicide bomber: How 'Babur in London' negotiated a cultural minefield

Song of the suicide bomber

Daring new opera 'Babur in London' features British terrorists planning an attack.
The school that brought the International Baccalaureate to the East End

Bringing the IB to the East End

The International Baccalaureate is not just for pupils in leafy suburbs.
England must beware brilliant Belgium

England must beware brilliant Belgium

They may have missed out on the Euros but the Belgians have a rash of young players who, thanks to the unifying skills of their coach, look to have a bright future
James Lawton: Liverpool must show new man the respect he needs to do the job

James Lawton

Liverpool must show new man the respect he needs to do the job
2012: the year when England's support decided to stay at home

2012: the year when England's support decided to stay at home

Three Lions will play their Euro 2012 games in front of only a few thousand of their fans
What's wrong with Rory?

What's wrong with Rory?

Is the trouble with the defending US Open champion in his head, in his swing, with his girlfriend – or is it all in the minds of others?