Tottenham Hotspur may have pretty much qualified for the Champions League next season thanks to Manchester United and Arsenal, but they will still harbour slim hopes of lifting this season’s trophy.
Spurs are in the semi-final of the competition for the first time in their history, but find themselves 1-0 down in the tie, and facing an away leg at Ajax.
Tottenham travel to the Netherlands to take on the Dutch giants tomorrow night and will need to win the match if they stand any chance of making it to the final.
Spurs must win the match 1-0 in 90 minutes and beat Ajax in extra-time or on penalties, or win the game while scoring two or more goals to qualify.
It will be a tough ask against a young Dutch side who have already knocked Real Madrid and Juventus out of this year’s competition.
Michael Owen has now predicted what he believes the scoreline will be in Amsterdam, and it isn’t good reading for Tottenham.
He said (BetVictor – quoted by Metro): “Ajax have won at Real Madrid, Juventus and Spurs in the Champions League this season, but they have failed to win any of their last three home ties in the competition. There are bound to be plenty of nerves on and off the pitch in Amsterdam and I expect Spurs to give the hosts plenty of problems despite their poor recent run of results.
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“Spurs could, and probably should, have been out of sight by half-time at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday and it says much about the game when the Man of the Match award goes to the goalkeeper of the side who played the vast majority of the 2nd half with a two-man advantage.
“I expect to see Mauricio Pochettino’s side score in Holland, but I fear it will be the hosts who qualify for the Final in Madrid at the beginning of June.”
Michael’s prediction: 1-1
Spurs Web Opinion:
Tottenham are more than capable of going to Ajax and getting a convincing win if they play at their very best and catch the young Dutch side on a nervy night. The key may be for Spurs to score early and pile on the pressure. This Ajax team may be young and fearless, but they lack the same level of experience at the top level as some of the other Champions League teams. With Son and Sissoko back in the team, Spurs have a real chance of making the final.
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