Not only are Tottenham through to the last 16 of the Champions League, but we already know they won’t be facing some of their biggest rivals until much later in the competition.
Despite their terrible Premier League form, Thomas Frank and Tottenham have excelled in the Champions League and will be in the draw for the round of 16 without the hassle of a play-off.
In fact, with a top four finish, Spurs will get a favourable draw in the next round, including a home tie in the second leg. Given the Lilywhites are yet to concede a goal at home in the competition, that’s great news.
Just how far Spurs can go in the competition remains to be seen. However, we do know they’ll have to get to the latter stages before they have to worry about the likes of Arsenal, Man City, and former star, Harry Kane.
Tottenham can avoid key rivals in Champions League
We know that Tottenham will face one of four teams in the next round – Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Club Brugge, or Galatasaray.
However, thanks to UEFA’s bracket system, we can see into the future, sort of, and see what would await Spurs further into the Champions League knockout stages.
It’s probably good news that Tottenham are on the opposite side of the bracket to London rivals Arsenal, Pep Guardiola’s Man City, and even Bayern Munich and Harry Kane – at least for now. They wouldn’t face any of those teams until the semi-finals.
If Spurs do make it past their round of 16 opponents, they’ll face one of six teams: Monaco, Qarabag, PSG, Newcastle, Barcelona, or Chelsea. It all depends how the play-offs and other last-16 matches go, of course.
Can Spurs do the unthinkable?
Obviously, there is no easy route to the Champions League final. Every team still in the competition come the knockout phases is there because they’ve overcome a lot of difficult matches and they all have their merits.
However, the fact that Spurs finished fourth in the league phase and looked relatively comfortable throughout does bode well. In fact, with the nature of the draw ahead, there is a slight temptation to get carried away and think about just how far the Lilywhites can go.
This campaign is eerily similar to last season. Spurs are struggling in the league, but are firing on all cylinders in Europe. It’s not outside the realms of possibility that Thomas Frank could lead this team to Champions League glory while still finishing just above the relegation zone domestically.
It would be unthinkable and very ironic, but it could happen.