Lucas Bergvall hands Tottenham a major boost for Europa League second leg

Ange Postecoglou has been handed a huge Tottenham Hotspur boost as Lucas Bergvall avoided suspension ahead of their Europa League second-leg tie in Germany.

For sure, Ange Postecoglou will want his Tottenham Hotspur squad in top condition heading into the decisive second leg of their Europa League quarter-final tie.

After Thursday’s first-leg clash, things are certainly looking up on that front. No fresh injuries were picked up on the night, and even Destiny Udogie, who appeared to walk off gingerly after being substituted, has since confirmed that the issue is nothing serious.

Given Tottenham’s current situation in the Premier League, where they sit 14th, it’s expected that Postecoglou will rotate his side heavily on Sunday to prioritise the European campaign.

Tottenham handed a major Europa League boost as Lucas Bergvall avoids suspension

Ahead of the match on Thursday, we reported that three Spurs players were walking a suspension tightrope. One more yellow card, and they’d be ruled out of the second leg of the Europa League quarter-finals in Germany.

To Postecoglou’s delight, Lucas Bergvall — one of the standout performers in recent weeks — avoided picking up a third yellow card and is now fully available for the crucial return leg.

According to UEFA’s disciplinary rules, yellow cards are wiped after the quarter-final stage, which means all three who were at risk — Bergvall, Dejan Kulusevski and Yves Bissouma — can now breathe easy. They’re all clear to play without fear of suspension.

Of course, this is a major boost for Spurs, who are desperate to secure a victory in Germany, after playing out a 1-1 draw at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Lucas Bergvall’s growing influence at Spurs backed by improved strength and consistency

Throughout this season, Lucas Bergvall has quietly become one of Tottenham Hotspur’s most important players.

After a slightly inconsistent start to life in north London, the Swedish midfielder has stepped up in a big way over the past few months.

He even came close to scoring on Thursday, too, with a cracking long-range effort that rattled the bar.

Journalist Alasdair Gold has picked up on the physical transformation Bergvall has undergone, noting the clear improvement in how he holds off challenges and protects the ball in midfield.

“He’s turning into a big lad as well,” Gold said. “I watched the footage of the players coming out the tunnel and he is properly bulking up.

“Every time I see him, he looks a little bit stronger and stronger. I know Ange said it’s because he keeps following Deki (Kulusevski) in the gym.

“But it’s impacting his play as well — he’s so much stronger on the ball. He’s going to be one of the first names on the team sheet going forward.”

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