As buoyant as can be, newly-crowned Europa League champions Tottenham Hotspur conclude a turbulent season at home to Brighton & Hove Albion in Sunday’s Premier League finale.
The Lilywhites faithful are in full-blown party mode after their team finally snapped a 17-year trophy drought, while Fabian Hurzeler‘s men can still make the Conference League in very specific circumstances.
Match preview
Starved of silverware since their Jonathan Woodgate-inspired success in the 2007-08 EFL Cup final over Chelsea, Tottenham had to overcome a creative injury crisis and their manager being warned he could enter “clown” territory before meeting Manchester United with Europa League glory on the line.
The sixth all-English UEFA club competition final was anything but a blockbuster, but after Brennan Johnson and Luke Shaw combined to force the ball over Andre Onana‘s line at the end of the first half, Tottenham took a leaf out of the Jose Mourinho playbook.
So often lambasted for their commitment to attacking when the situation calls for a backs-against-the-wall approach, Tottenham parked the bus in a manner that Mourinho would have been extremely proud of, thereby defeating meek Man United and earning a slice of European stardom.
Now set to grace the Champions League with their presence again next term, Tottenham should be forgiven by most of their supporters for posting their worst-ever Premier League season, and there is a chance that the Lilywhites could still end the campaign 17th in the table.
However, 17th with Champions League football and a trophy is arguably far more desirable than sixth place and no major honour, and if Sunday’s match does prove to be Postecoglou’s last in the Tottenham chair, ‘Big Ange’ will depart knowing that he achieved something none of Mourinho, Antonio Conte or Mauricio Pochettino could manage in North London.
At the other end of the managerial experience scale, Brighton’s Hurzeler may yet lead the Seagulls out to the Conference League anthem next term, as the visiting faithful ponder permutations galore for the final day of the campaign.
Boasting a three-point lead over ninth-placed Brentford and too far behind seventh-placed Nottingham Forest, Brighton will seal an eighth-placed finish by taking home at least a point from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which will suffice for European entry in a particular set of circumstances.
Firstly, the Seagulls require Chelsea to finish seventh, or the Blues finish sixth and EFL Cup winners Newcastle place seventh, as well as Enzo Maresca‘s team beating Real Betis in the Conference League final next Wednesday evening; to say that the stars need to align for the visitors would be an understatement.
As Brighton fans anxiously await to hear updates from elsewhere, the players have one task at hand to fulfil, but they have done their European prospects no harm in recent weeks, taking 10 points from the last 12 on offer and stunning champions Liverpool 3-2 on Monday night.
Coincidentally, the Seagulls fought back to defeat Tottenham by that exact scoreline earlier this season, but they have lost seven of their last eight league games away to Spurs, whose supporters should not lose any sleep whatsoever over the outcome of Sunday’s showdown.
Team News
The only miniscule dampener on an otherwise perfect evening for Spurs in Bilbao was Richarlison coming off with yet another injury midway through the second half, although his knock did not inhibit his post-final celebrations.
Regardless, it would be a shock to see Richarlison or most of the starters from Wednesday’s final feature from the off on Sunday, although a lack of midfield options could mean no respite for any of Pape Sarr, Yves Bissouma or Rodrigo Bentancur.
Dejan Kulusevski (knee), Radu Dragusin (knee), Dane Scarlett (groin), James Maddison (knee) and Timo Werner (thigh) are all unavailable, while ankle victim Lucas Bergvall should miss out too, despite making the trip to Bilbao.
While Spurs might miss a Brazilian attacker, Brighton will definitely be without a Selecao striker, as Joao Pedro has been banished from the group this weekend due to a training-ground bust-up with teammate Jan Paul van Hecke.
Hurzeler has axed Pedro in spite of Georginio Rutter‘s continued absence with a foot problem, while James Milner (thigh), Ferdi Kadioglu (toe) and Solly March (knee) are still out; Tariq Lamptey (knee) and Jason Steele (finger) are touch and go.
In Pedro’s absence against Liverpool, Brajan Gruda took his opportunity with both hands – or feet – by setting up Yasin Ayari‘s opener, while Kaoru Mitoma bagged his 10th goal of the league campaign off the bench in that game and should take Simon Adingra‘s spot.
Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:
Kinsky; Spence, Danso, Davies, Reguilon; Odobert, Gray, Bissouma, Moore; Tel, Son
Brighton & Hove Albion possible starting lineup:
Verbruggen; Wieffer, Webster, Van Hecke, Estupinan; Baleba, Ayari; Minteh, Gruda, Mitoma; Welbeck
We say: Tottenham Hotspur 1-3 Brighton & Hove Albion
There could be scope for Spurs to defy pre-game expectations this weekend, as the Lilywhites are riding cloud nine for the first time in a long time and will be welcomed by the most jovial atmosphere the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has ever seen.
However, with Postecoglou sure to shuffle his pack considerably and Brighton in a good moment, the Seagulls should take advantage of the hosts’ European hangover to rubber-stamp eighth place.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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