Tottenham Hotspur kick off their Europa League campaign on Thursday with the visit of Azerbaijani giants Qarabag.
A regular on the European stage, Qarabag have faced English opposition on six occasions since 2015, but have come up short each time, including against Spurs in the group stage of this competition in 2015 /16.
They may be clear underdogs heading into this one, but Qarabag can be a dangerous outfit on their day. There are four key players here spurs you have to be careful.
Qarabag’s star player is 27-year-old striker Juninho, who scored 31 goals in all competitions and already has eight this time.
Juninho is a versatile type of striker who is comfortable on either wing and prefers to hurt defenders with the ball at his feet rather than challenge them in the air.
Agility is perhaps Juninho’s strongest asset, so expect him to charge the Spurs backline at every opportunity.
Comfortable as a winger or behind a centre-forward, Leandro Andrade has developed into a genuine goal threat.
The 25-year-old racked up 15 goals and 18 assists last season, including three assists in the Europa League, and has started the current campaign with a good run of form in front of goal as well.
His quick thinking and silky movement make him a defender’s nightmare and the Spurs need to be on fire to keep him at bay.
Fans of a certain age may recognize the name Yassine Benzia. Compared to Karim Benzema as a 17-year-old, the now 30-year-old was once one of the most exciting young prospects in football.
There’s no denying that Benzia’s career hasn’t reached the heights many hoped for, but he’s still made a name for himself and been a regular source of goals behind Juninho.
It’s no surprise that with a player with his youth experience, Benzia brings a different level of technical quality to this team, and that’s how he looks to beat his defenders. Brains, not brawn.
Azerbaijan’s young football star, 20-year-old striker Nariman Akhundzada, enjoyed a huge year last season, finishing with 17 goals to his name.
He’s a scrawny, unconventional guy who plays mainly out wide, where his tricky feet and tall frame combine to cause problems for full-backs. Destiny Udogie, or whoever plays at left back for Spurs, will have work to do.
Akhundzada has already found the back of the net five times this season, and will be hoping to add to that here.
