Prediction: Tottenham vs Paços Ferreira

Verdict: Tottenham win to nil 

Best Odds: 7/10

Bookmaker: Unibet

Knowing that they must turn around the deficit on Thursday night, Tottenham will welcome Paços Ferreira to North London for the second-leg of their Europa Conference League qualifier.

Tottenham

Starting with the hosts, shocking many across Europe as they were hit with that 1-0 loss out in Portugal last week, there is no doubt that Tottenham would have been glad to make an immediate return to winning ways. With new boss Nuno Espírito Santo taking his squad to former employers Wolves on Sunday afternoon, the North London outfit picked up a 1-0 win on the road, despite being heavily outplayed in the Midlands. Opening up the 2021/22 campaign with back-to-back Premier League victories after that stunning 1-0 win against defending Premier League champions Manchester City on the opening weekend, Spurs will now be hoping to find a clinical edge in the final third. After signing off their pre-season preparations with a 1-0 friendly win against bitter rivals Arsenal earlier in the month, Thursday’s hosts have failed to record more than a single strike in any of their last four straight matchups across all formats.

Team News

Coming off the bench away at Wolves over the weekend, England skipper Harry Kane could make his first start of the season on Thursday night.

Likewise, making his debut out in Portugal last week, summer arrivals Cristian Romero should retain his European spot at the heart of Spurs’ defence.

Paços Ferreira

As for the visitors, while many might have thought that Paços Ferreira could have been blown away by an altered Tottenham side last week, The Beavers put in a rugged display on home soil. Picking up a first-leg advantage and limiting Spurs to few chances at their goal, Jorge Simão’s would have been hugely disappointed by his side’s latest display on Monday. Getting hit with a 3-1 drumming at the hands of Estoril at the Estádio da Mata, Pacenses will know they face what could be a far sterner test on foreign soil. Despite managing to extend on their Europa Conference League qualifying adventure thanks to a routine 4-1 aggregate win against Northern Irish outfit Larne earlier in the month, Simão will be concerned by his side’s recent displays on the road. Including a 3-0 drumming at the hands of Boavista on August 16th, Paços Ferreira have lost each of their last three away fixtures on the spin.

Team News

Given a rest against Estoril earlier in the week, the duo of Helder and Lucas Silva are expected to come straight back into Jorge Simão’s starting XI on Thursday night.

However, picking up that shock first-leg victory seven days ago, Paços Ferreira are expected to field a similar starting XI.

Key Factors to Consider

• When the two sides faced off at the Estádio da Mata Real last week, Paços Ferreira picked up a shock 1-0 victory.
• Spurs have recorded a clean sheet in each of their last four competitive matchups in North London.
• However, Tottenham have failed to score over 1.5 goals in any of their last four matchups.
• Thursday’s guests have lost each of their last three away fixtures on the spin.
• Likewise, Paços Ferreira have lost three of their last four matchups across all formats.

Conclusion

Getting hit with a 3-1 drumming at the hands of Estoril on Monday night, it appears that Paços Ferreira will need a minor miracle if they’re to extend on their European adventure in midweek. Despite landing that stunning 1-0 victory on home soil seven days ago, Tottenham will really fancy their chances of completing the turnaround in North London. Managing to build off of that rugged 1-0 victory against defending Premier League champions Manchester City on the opening weekend, Spurs could be looking to put out a few of their superstars in the capital. Likely to be backed by a noisy home support, it is hard to see anything other than a home victory for Nuno Espírito Santo’s side on Thursday.

Verdict: Tottenham win to nil

Best Odds: 7/10

Bookmaker: Unibet