Champions League Group A preview: Spurs, Inter vie for top honours

With both teams already through to the last 16, Inter Milan and Tottenham will vie for top spot in Champions League Group A on Tuesday.

Spurs travel to the Netherlands to take on reigning Dutch champions FC Twente, while Inter make the trip to Germany to face the group’s bottom side Werder Bremen.

Both teams are locked on 10 points but with Spurs holding a superior head-to-head goal difference than the reigning European champions, Harry Redknapp’s side would seal top spot if they remain on equal points after Tuesday’s fixtures.

Twente, meanwhile, have already booked a Europa League spot, despite leading last-placed Bremen by just three points. The Dutch champions are assured of a third-place finish in the group by account of a superior head-to-head record over Thomas Schaaf’s side.

Nevertheless, Twente have plenty to play for against Spurs given that they have the chance to be one of the four best third-placed teams in the Champions League, which would see them seeded for the Europa League knockout stages draw.

With qualification already secured and injuries to the likes of Rafael van der Vaart, Younes Kaboul and Jonathan Woodgate, Spurs boss Harry Redknapp may opt to freshen up his stretched squad by fielding an under-strength side.

Embattled Inter boss Rafael Benitez, whose side slipped to sixth place in the Serie A standings after Friday’s 3-1 loss to second-placed Lazio, may not have such a luxury with speculation in the Italian media mounting about his immediate future at the club.

For Bremen, their clash with Inter will be seen a chance to restore some pride after a dismal performance in Europe this season. Victory over Inter may also go a long way in breathing life into their stuttering domestic campaign which sees them languishing in 10th place in the Bundesliga.