How Tottenham could line up against Dinamo Zagreb

2:57pm on Wednesday 17th March 2021
By Robin Bairner

Two goals from Harry Kane have given Tottenham a comfortable 2-0 advantage over Dinamo Zagreb in the Europa League last 16.

Zagreb failed to pose a real threat at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium but the resignation of manager Zoran Mamic after receiving a four-year prison sentence for fraud could see a very different opposition for Mourinho’s side.

However, Spurs’ defeat to Arsenal on Sunday made their chances of Champions League qualification through the league increasingly difficult, and now could be the time to shift their attention to winning the Europa League.

A clean sheet in the home fixture for the centre-back pairing of Eric Dier and Davinson Sanchez could see them fielded once again alongside full-backs Serge Aurier and Ben Davies.

Having a lead to protect would suggest a more conservative midfield, but with Pierre-Emile Hojberg banned, Tanguy Ndombele and Moussa Sissoko could take to the field.

Both Gareth Bale and Dele Alli have found their feet in recent weeks in the competition, with the Welshman able to work his way back into Mourinho’s plans.

Heung-Min Son came off in the first half of the north London derby with a hamstring injury so is unable to feature on Thursday.

Erik Lamela was sent off in the same fixture but no doubt his Portuguese boss would have appreciated the feistiness shown by his player in a derby match.

Harry Kane is not in the form of previous months but Spurs’ talisman is as close to a guarantee to start any meaningful game for Spurs as you can get.