Champions League preview: Milan v Tottenham

Tottenham Hotspur travel to the San Siro to meet Serie A leaders AC Milan in the first Champions League knock-out round on Tuesday.

Spurs have visited the famous Italian stadium once already this season after being drawn in Group A with defending champions Inter Milan.

Harry Redknapp’s side found themselves 4-0 down after 35 minutes and also lost goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes to a red card.

But the 10-man visitors nearly completed a remarkable comeback thanks to one of the performances of the season from Gareth Bale.

The Welsh left-sided player – nominally a full-back but increasingly deployed in attack this season by Redknapp – scored a hat-trick, tormenting Brazil international right-back Maicon.

Bale reprised his role in the return fixture at White Hart Lane, shredding the Inter defence to set up two goals in a 3-1 win for Spurs.

But the English Premier League side are likely to be without their most potent weapon for their second visit to Milan – Bale has missed Tottenham’s last four matches with a back injury.

Influential playmaker Luka Modric is also in serious doubt, meaning Rafael van der Vaart is expected to be risked, despite struggling with a calf problem.

Long-term defensive absentees Younis Kaboul and Ledley King remain sidelined, while holding midfielder Tom Huddlestone – another key component of Tottenham’s European line-up – is also out.

Even without a full strength line-up to choose from, experienced Champions League campaigners Milan are a demanding prospect.

Despite drawing two of their last four matches, they remain unbeaten in their last nine and top the Serie A table by three points.

While Spurs were forced to scramble for a 2-1 win over Sunderland on Saturday, a second-half brace from Brazil forward Robinho eased Milan to a confidence-boosting 4-0 win over Parma.

But Massimiliano Allegri’s side are not without problems of their own.

January arrivals Antonio Cassano, Mark Van Bommel and Urby Emanuelson are cup-tied, while key midfielders Andrea Pirlo and Massimo Ambrosini are injured.

Alessandro Nesta may return in central defence for what will be both Redknapp and Allegri’s first taste of management in the latter stages of the competition.