Dominic Solanke could equal or break a Europa League record set by Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka when Tottenham Hotspur face Eintracht Frankfurt in the first leg of their quarter-final on Thursday night.
As underwhelming as Ange Postecoglou‘s team have been domestically this season, languishing in 14th place in the Premier League table, they could still end the campaign with some silverware and a spot in the Champions League.
The Lilywhites welcome 2021-22 Europa League winners Frankfurt to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for their opening quarter-final battle on April 10, reuniting with Die Adler following their pair of meetings in the 2022-23 Champions League group stage.
Spurs progressed to the final eight courtesy of a comeback success over AZ Alkmaar in the last 16, where Solanke laid on two assists for Wilson Odobert‘s brace in the 3-1 second-leg win in North London.
The former Liverpool and Bournemouth striker is now on an impressive four assists for the Europa League season, having also set up Dejan Kulusevski against Rangers and Brennan Johnson vs. Qarabag.
Solanke bidding to match or break Saka record vs. Frankfurt
© Imago
If Solanke plays the final pass before a goal on Thursday night, he will equal the record for the most assists by an English player in a single Europa League season, currently held by Arsenal’s Saka.
The Gunners winger set up five strikes during Arsenal’s 2019-20 Europa League run, achieving that tally in just six games as Mikel Arteta‘s side lost to Olympiacos in the knockout round playoffs.
Currently just one behind his Arsenal counterpart, Solanke would set a new outright single-season Europa League assist record for English players if he repeats his AZ Alkmaar trick and sets up two goals against Frankfurt.
The 27-year-old only has two strikes of his own to show from eight Europa League appearances this season, though, and he is on a four-game goalless drought in the competition since netting in the 3-2 loss to Galatasaray in November.
Solanke has also failed to score or assist in any of his last four Premier League appearances since coming back from a knee injury, although his opposite number also knows a thing or two about goal droughts.
In-demand Hugo Ekitike out to break Europa League duck against Spurs
© Imago
Lining up for the away side this week will be Hugo Ekitike, who is believed to be on the radar of Manchester United after scoring 19 goals and setting up eight more in his first 40 appearances of the season.
The 22-year-old has had a direct hand in six Europa League goals in 10 games – three of his own and three assists – but five of those contributions have come at home, including all three of his goals.
Ekitike is therefore aiming to score his first-ever Europa League away goal on Thursday night, having not managed to find the back of the net in any of his five road games in the competition so far.
However, the Frenchman will also miss the second leg of the quarter-final if he picks up a booking at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, having been cautioned twice in the current tournament so far.
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