Tottenham Hotspur may have been held to another draw at Monaco, but there is one thing that Thomas Frank will be encouraged by regarding their Champions League results.
Tottenham were lucky to emerge with a point from Monaco, and the home side will feel that they had more than enough chances to have won convincingly.
The draw means that the Lilywhites currently sit in 15th place in the league phase standings. A top-eight finish will see Spurs go straight to the round of 16 stage.
A top 24 finish will be enough for Frank’s men to qualify for the knockouts, and there is one stat that the Lilywhites will be very encouraged by.
Tottenham are still on course for a top-eight Champions League finish
Despite drawing their last two fixtures, Spurs are still on course to not just qualify for the knockouts, but also to finish in the top eight. Last season, 16 points were enough to secure a top-eight finish and go straight to the round of 16.
Tottenham Hotspur have won their one home game against Villarreal and drawn their two away matches against Bodo/Glimt and Monaco.
If Thomas Frank and co continue this trend by winning all their home games and drawing away, it will be enough to take Spurs to the magical number of 16 points.
Of course, the tally required to qualify for the automatic knockouts could be slightly higher or lower this season, but the numbers say Spurs have plenty to be confident about.
The one problem Spurs face in the Champions League
However, winning all their remaining home games and continuing to draw away from home will be easier said than done for Thomas Frank’s men.
This is because Tottenham face a tough end to the group phase of the Champions League, with Paris Saint-Germain, Slavia Prague, Borussia Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt being their final four opponents in this stage of the competition.
Getting a point away at PSG and Frankfurt will not be easy, while beating Dortmund at home will be challenging as well, particularly given Spurs’ shocking record at home this season.