Tottenham vs Bayer Leverkusen: German legend Lothar Matthaus analyses Champions League clash
Sunsport's European and international football expert looks ahead to Wembley showdown
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LOTHAR MATTHAUS is SunSport’s European and international football pundit.
Here, the Germany legend analyses tonight’s crunch Wembley showdown between Tottenham and Bayer Leverkusen.
STYLE IS ORDER OF THE DAY
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This should be a terrific game between two teams who have very similar philosophies.
I’d say Leverkusen have more technical players and are better than the Bundesliga table suggests — far better than tenth. But there have been some issues affecting the quality of the team.
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Tottenham’s problem is they are not scoring enough goals from the chances they are making. It’s been like that all season. Even though it is at Wembley, not White Hart Lane, you can only respond to 80,000 fans — and that can make the difference for Tottenham in a tight match.
Javier Hernandez will act as the trigger for Bayer Leverkusen’s intense pressing game.
When he closes on a defender in possession, his team-mates will spring forward in a bid to win the ball back high up the pitch.
Spurs will mirror this approach, with Vincent Janssen or Heung-Min Son acting as the first line of defence.
POCH'S PRESSING CONCERN
Leverkusen are a pressing side. As soon as they lose the ball they immediately attack with four or five players to try to get it back.
That is the big danger for Tottenham, coping with that press — which, of course, is something that Mauricio Pochettino’s side like to do themselves.
What Spurs have to do is play through that first press to construct something. They might have to go longer than normal to beat it because Leverkusen then tend to stay high up.
If they can play past the first line, though, they will find Leverkusen are not quite so organised defensively and can be outnumbered at the back.
Jonathan Tah and Omer Toprak, the German side’s centre-backs, travelled with the squad but they have been out recently and I’m not sure either are 100 per cent fit.
BEWARE STARLET HENRICHS
I see similarities in the profile of the sides. Like Spurs, Leverkusen have lots of youngsters who are in the national squad now.
With Spurs it’s Dele Alli, Eric Dier, full-backs Kyle Walker, Danny Rose plus Harry Kane.
Leverkusen have Julian Brandt, one of the top young talents in Europe, defender Jonathan Tah, Bernd Leno in goal and Benjamin Henrichs at left-back.
If I was at a big club I would buy Henrichs. He is only 19 and began as an attacker but now plays at the back. Kevin Kampl and Charles Aranguiz are the engine room in the middle of the park.
But the danger to Tottenham is a man they already know well, Javier Hernandez. ‘Chicharito’ is a proven scorer, who can get a goal out of nothing.
Moussa Sissoko will have a dual role at Wembley tonight.
He must add energy and direct running going forward to ensure Vincent Janssen or Heung-Min Son don’t become isolated.
But it is also vital he tracks back to provide cover for Kyle Walker when Benjamin Henrichs bombs on.
HOTSHOT KANE A BIG LOSS
I’m sure every Spurs fan would rather see Harry Kane back. They have missed him in the last few games when they couldn’t win as expected.
But they have Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen, who can provide goals. What is critical for Spurs is that the wide midfielders, who I suspect will be Moussa Sissoko and Heung-Min Son, work back to stop the Bayer full-backs getting forward.