Tottenham Hotspur welcome Marseille to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in Group D of 2022-23 UEFA Champions League.
With Eintracht Frankfurt facing Sporting Lisbon in an early-evening match, victory could send Tottenham or Marseille top of Group D if can better the earlier result.
Team News
Bryan Gil is set to feature for Tottenham after resuming training last week, following the collapse of a planned transfer away from the club.
Lucas Moura (tendon) remains absent,
Marseille will be without Alexis Sanchez with the Chilean suspended after he was sent off during the second leg of Inter Milan’s eventual Round of 16 exit against Liverpool last season.
Dimitri Payet and Samuel Gigot are both ruled out with respective calf and muscle injuries.
Stat Attack
- This is Tottenham’s first-ever meeting against Marseille in all competitions.
- Marseille are visiting the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the very first time in all competitions.
- Two of Tottenham’s last three goals at home in all competitions this season have been scored by Harry Kane.
- Spurs have won of four of five previous matches against French opposition played at home (W4, L1), excluding their forfeited defeat against Rennes in last season’s Europa Conference League.
- Marseille are winless in four previous Champions League away matches against London-based opposition (D1, L3).
Prediction
Having endured two contrastable performances in their first two home games of the season, Tottenham were much better in Saturday’s Premier League win over Fulham with a stronger attack-minded display plus better defending – except for poor late man-marking which prevented a clean sheet.
Marseille like Spurs are still unbeaten this season and their away form is fairly similar to Spurs’ home form – albeit having dropped two points in an away draw at Brest in Ligue 1, whilst they now have ex Arsenal midfielder – Matteo Guendouzi amongst their ranks.
Add in the fact that this is the first time that Tottenham and Marseille have met with the French club boasting familar ex names known to Spurs, I am expecting an intriguing clash given Marseille’s pressing and quick attack style.
Now if Antonio Conte’s Spurs can get on the front foot early and dictate the pace and press of the game, I fancy them to get a routine win even amidst squad rotation, although Marseille should have enough in them to make this a close battle.
Prediction: Tottenham 2-1 Marseille
Result: Tottenham 2-0 Marseille
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