Champions League: Tottenham v RB Leipzig

SMS Message: I think Spurs are going to have a really tough game today. Don’t have a striker, playing against a great team in my opinion with great players. But we all saw what Lucas Moura did against Ajax last season in the semi-finals. from Henry, Leamington Spa

I think Spurs are going to have a really tough game today. Don’t have a striker, playing against a great team in my opinion with great players. But we all saw what Lucas Moura did against Ajax last season in the semi-finals.

Atalanta midfielder Marten de Roon told BBC World Service that his side were hungry for more success, having enjoyed a meteoric rise over the past decade.

“In the last 10 years we’ve played in Serie B and fought to stay in Serie A,” said the 28-year-old Dutchman.

“And in the past three years we’ve gone from Europa League to Champions League. The people are going crazy in the town – if they see you they talk only about the Champions League and the game against Valencia. They say, ‘try to make us dream even further’. The excitement is big, but not only for the fans, also for us.”

The Italian club qualified despite losing their first three games. They secured their passage with a 3-0 win at Shakhtar Donetsk.

De Roon added: “When we got back to the airport in Bergamo at 2:30am or so, there were around 3,000 people waiting for us with fireworks. It’s an unbelievable feeling – this bond the fans have with the club is amazing.”

Atalanta make one change to the XI that started in Saturday’s 2-1 win over Roma in Serie A, with midfielder Mario Pasalic, on loan from Chelsea, replacing Duvan Zapata in the XI.

Striker Josep Ilicic, with 15 goals for the Italian side this season, starts in attack.

Atalanta: Gollini, Toloi, Palomino, Djimsiti, Hateboer, de Roon, Freuler, Gosens, Pasalic, Ilicic, Gomez.

Subs: Sportiello, Caldara, Tameze, Muriel, Malinovskyi, Castagne, Zapata.

Valencia are without suspended defender Gabriel Paulista. Mouctar Diakhaby replaces him at centre-back.

That is the only change to the XI that started in Friday’s 2-2 draw against Atletico Madrid.

Maxi Gomez, with nine goals in La Liga this season, partners Goncalo Guedes up front.

Valencia: Domenech Jaume, Wass, Mangala, Diakhaby, Kondogbia,
Gaya, Torres, Parejo, Carlos Soler, Goncalo Guedes, Gomez.

Subs:
Correia, Costa Jaume, Gameiro, Cheryshev, Cillessen, Sobrino,
Molina.

Julian Nagelsmann is considered one of the best young managers in the world.

He became Hoffenheim manager four years ago at the age of just 28.

They were seven points adrift of safety when he took over in February – but they stayed up, and then qualified for the Champions League the following season.

It was announced in 2018 that Nagelsmann would remain in charge for the 2018-19 season and then take charge of Leipzig.

In his first season there, he has led them to the Champions League knockout stages for the first time – and they sit one point behind Bayern Munich at the top of the Bundesliga.

“It is only a game between Leipzig and Tottenham,” Leipzig boss Julian Nagelsmann said. “Eight years ago Tim Wiese called me Baby Mourinho, but that was only for two weeks.

“After that he called me Julian again. Tomorrow it is Leipzig against Tottenham, not Mourinho v Baby Mourinho.

“I have great respect for Mourinho. He has won lots of titles with big clubs, the Champions League twice. He has made his mark on European football at some big European clubs.

“I think it his 59th knockout game in the Champions League and it is my first so there is obviously respect there.”

Rob Green

Former West Ham and England goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

He has a lot of technical players in the side tonight for Tottenham. We have all played in teams where you need a goal hanger and I look at this Tottenham team and I do not see one.

They are going to have score the perfect goal or a set piece. They don’t have the Harry Kane type player who can tap the ball in, they will be great on the ball to watch but I think in the 18-yard box they will struggle.

Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho to BT Sport on their injury problems: “This is not the moment to think about it. This is the moment to think about our stragegy and the spirit we need to face this match.

“This is half a match today [because of two legs]. We need to be positive.

“We are going to play against a team who play five at the back, very consistent, very fast. They will try to surprise us with very fast counter-attacks. It will be a very difficult match. We know what we’ll try to do.

“We have to be very clinical because I don’t think we’ll have 10 chances.”

Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho makes two changes to the team that started in the 3-2 win at Aston Villa.

Midfielders Gedson Fernandes and Giovani lo Celso come in for Eric Dier and the injured Son Heung-min.

Dele Alli, Steven Bergwijn and Lucas Moura are the trio in attack.

Tottenham: Lloris, Aurier, Alderweireld, Sanchez,
Davies, Winks, Fernandes, Lo Celso, Alli, Bergwijn, Lucas Moura.

Subs: Vertonghen, Lamela, Dier, Gazzaniga, Ndombele, Skipp,
Tanganga.

RB Leipzig boss Julian Nagelsmann picks Ethan Ampadu, on loan from Chelsea, in his XI with defenders Dayot Upamecano suspended and Ibrahima Konate and Willi Orban both injured.

Timo Werner, linked with a move to the Premier League, is also in the starting line-up. Angelino is a recent recruit from Manchester City.

RB Leipzig: Gulacsi, Mukiele, Klostermann, Halstenberg, Angelino, Laimer, Ampadu, Sabitzer, Nkunku, Schick, Werner.

Subs: Haidara, Poulsen, Forsberg, Lookman, Wolf, Olmo, Mvogo.

Wales international Ethan Ampadu, on loan from Chelsea, is in RB Leipzig’s starting line-up tonight.

He’s only played 187 minutes in total for the German club all season.

Can Spurs overcome their injury problems and go far in the Champions League? Are Leipzig potential European champions?

Let us know your thoughts on Twitter – #bbcfootball – or on text – 81111.

Jose Mourinho has a rich history in the Champions League having won the tournament with Porto in 2004 and Inter Milan in 2010 – and he knows how to navigate the later stages of Europe’s elite competition.

He has a tough task on his hands tonight as Spurs take on RB Leipzig, led by their coveted young coach Julian Nagelsmann.

Leipzig are fiercely ambitious, lie just a point behind leaders Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga and see the Champions League as the perfect stage to announce their arrival as a major power.

Spurs, now without injured Son Heung-min, face a real a battle against a very good side.

Dele Alli, Steven Bergwijn and Lucas Moura all start up front for Spurs who don’t have a recognised striker.

Full team news to follow.

Spurs: Lloris, Aurier, Alderweireld, Sanchez, Davies, Winks, Fernandes, Lo Celso, Alli, Bergwijn, Moura.

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

Son Heung-min’s absence means Brazilian Lucas Moura, Dutchman Steven Bergwijn, signed in January, and Republic of Ireland international Troy Parrott are Tottenham’s only fit forwards, though Mourinho believes 18-year-old Parrott “is not ready” to play at senior level.

“The situation couldn’t be worse. That is obvious,” added the Portuguese. “There is nothing we can do. We are going to play with the players we have available.

“I was worried about not having attacking options on the bench, now I don’t have attacking options on the pitch.

“My thoughts are that Troy Parrott is not ready and [English winger] Ryan Sessegnon is not a striker.

“No strikers, no market. Nothing. The only help we can have is our crowd, the Tottenham supporters. That is the only thing I ask because to the players I cannot ask more than what they are giving.”

Who’s going to start up front tonight? We should find out soon.

In a rare occurance, there is also a Premier League game on tonight at the same time as the Champions League.

Manchester City are at home to West Ham at 19:30 GMT in a game which was rearranged because of Storm Ciara.

Follow that one here.

Son Heung-min has joined Harry Kane on the long-term injury list for Spurs.

The South Korea international has had surgery on a broken arm and could miss the rest of the season.

Click below to watch Jose Mourinho compare his time at Spurs so far – and Son’s injury – as climbing the stairs.

There is another debutant in the Champions League knockout stages tonight. Atalanta are at ‘home’ to Valencia.

I say at home, but they have to play their games at the San Siro, 35 miles away, because their ground doesn’t meet Uefa regulations.

RB Leipzig were formed by energy drink company Red Bull in 2009.

In the 10 and a half years since they have been promoted four times and are in their third consecutive season in European competition.

However their rise is not too popular in Germany.

Read here to find out more.