Tottenham are set to board a flight to France as they prepare to face Monaco this midweek with Champions League music humming in the background.
While the Lilywhites are unbeaten in the European top tier this season, given the growing list of injuries where
With several first-team regulars expected to miss out, Thomas Frank will have a difficult task ahead of the kickoff. The Dane head coach has to likely stitch up a side without Cristian Romero, Destiny Udogie and Mathys Tel (with two of them picking up knocks ahead of that Villa game while the latter is ineligible to play in UCL).
We take a look at how Spurs could set up going into the game at Stade Louis II.
Tottenham predicted lineup vs Monaco
Goalkeeper: Guglielmo Vicario
Vicario had a decent display against Villa. While many blamed his positioning for one of the goals, I think it’s looking into things too much, and he deserves to keep his #1 place between the sticks.
Defenders: Porro, Danso, Van de Ven, Spence
Cristian Romero had a late withdrawal from the squad against Aston Villa. The Argentine had an adductor issue which likely rules him out of the game against Monaco, in turn forcing Kevin Danso to continue in central defence. He will play alongside Micky van de Ven. The Dutch ace is one yellow card away from a Champions League suspension. Djed Spence is expected to deputise again at left-back as well, given Udogie’s absence from the Villa game. He has suffered a knock, and it is most likely that New England international Spence keeps his place. And Pedro Porro retains his spot on the right defensive channel.
Given how Monaco will be looking to isolate full backs out wide, they will have to be on their toes with their positioning.
Midfield: Palhinha, Bentancur, Bergvall
Rodrigo Bentancur will be expected to act as the key reference point in that first phase for the North Londoners once again. He will be expected to alternate between dropping between the centre-backs and stepping up into a midfield pivot with Palhinha at the base. Lucas Bergvall could regain his starting place as the third midfielder.
Given that Sarr has that box-to-box ability, he would also be a great shout for the game. But this one needs more capacity in the middle of the park with carriers going from that second phase to the third phase, and that is what Bergvall brings to the table.
Starting Bergvall is more about aiding those attacking sequences than containing transitions.
Forwards: Kudus, Richarlison, Simons
With Mathys Tel not available for selection for the North Londoners, Richarlison is expected to start in that #9 role. He will be accompanied by Xavi Simons on the left and Kudus on the right.
Simons played several clever passes in behind against Villa and will be tasked as the chief creator for the visitors once again.
And then with how defensively fragile Monaco have been, those hybrids of wingers and creators in Kudus and Simons will expectedly give them a lot of problems.
Predicted Tottenham lineup vs Monaco (4-3-3): Vicario; Porro, Danso, Van de Ven, Spence; Palhinha, Bentancur, Bergvall; Kudus, Richarlison, Simons
