Tottenham Hotspur will be looking for a third straight win in all competitions when they travel to Istanbul to face Galatasaray on Thursday.
Spurs are still capable of failing but have won nine of their last 11 games in all competitions. Giving up a two-goal lead in a 3-2 defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion and producing a subdued display in a 1-0 defeat at Crystal Palace highlighted the frustrations of the Tottenham faithful.
The Europa League has been perfect so far for the Lilywhites. Three outings have resulted in maximum points, with Ange Postecoglou often making wholesale changes against inferior opposition. Galatasaray will present Spurs with their toughest European challenge yet.
Here’s how Tottenham could line up in Turkey.
GK: William Vicar – Fraser Forster performed well in the 1-0 win over AZ Alkmaar last time out in the Europa League, but first-choice stopper Vicario may be preferred on Thursday as Spurs prepare to face impressive attacking firepower.
RB: Archie Gray – Gray thrived in a right-back role for Leeds United last season and this is where the orthodox midfielder has earned most of his minutes for Spurs. He is likely to come up against Yunus Akgun, who he will know from his loan spell at Leicester City last term.
CB: Radu Dragusin – Injuries to Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven will force Postecoglou to introduce his second-string central pairing on Thursday. Dragusin, who was sent off in Spurs’ first Europa League encounter, will have the task of keeping Victor Osimhen at bay.
CB: Ben Davies – You know what you’re going to get from the experienced Welshman, who has been in North London for over a decade now. He has started all three Europa League games for Tottenham.
LB: Destiny Udogie – Left-back cover is thin on the ground, with Udogie one of Spurs’ few options. The young Italian has rarely rested this season and Postecoglou will have to be careful with his minutes during the attacking winter period.
CM: Lucas Bergvall – The 18-year-old has shone in Spurs’ last two Europa League games but will face a much tougher challenge in the engine room on Thursday. Will it sink or swim?
CM: Yves Bissouma – Tottenham are a much stronger team defensively with Bissouma in the starting line-up and should provide much-needed protection to a changed rearguard. He will fight the first arsenal midfielder Lucas Torreira in the centre.
CM: James Maddison – Despite a wonderful free-kick against Villa, Maddison has been pushed down the pecking order in recent weeks as Dejan Kulusevski shines in an attacking midfield role. He may have to accept a place in Spurs’ alternate XI.
RW: Mikey Moore – Enormous expectations rest on Moore’s shoulders, and early signs suggest he is capable of living up to them. A pressure cooker atmosphere in Istanbul will put your credentials to the test.
ST: Dominic Solanke – With Richarlison on the sidelines once again, Solanke should lead the line in Turkey. The summer recruit had been in frustrating form, however scored two well-marked goals against Villa to cheer him up.
LW: Timo Werner – Werner broke his duck against Man City in last week’s Carabao Cup tie before you go on to lose a lot of opportunities. The German is unlikely to ever develop into a clinical finisher, but he is a tireless worker.
