Tottenham face Borussia Dortmund at home in their Champions League clash on Tuesday night.
Not much has gone right for Tottenham manager Thomas Frank during the first half of the season. The Lilywhites have struggled for consistency and have failed to show clear signs of improvement under the Danish tactician. They currently sit in the bottom half of the Premier League table, having won just seven of their opening 22 matches in the competition. To compound their struggles, Spurs have also been eliminated from both domestic cup competitions this season.
The one bright spot for the North Londoners has been their Champions League campaign. Thomas Frank’s side have performed well in Europe, securing several crucial results as they continue to push for automatic qualification to the knockout stages of the competition. Spurs are currently 11th in the table after six matches, with only one point separating them from eighth-placed Atletico Madrid.
Credit where it is due, the Lilywhites have stepped up on the European stage this season. Despite their domestic woes, Spurs have suffered just one defeat in the Champions League under Thomas Frank. They also remain unbeaten at home in the competition, suggesting the club is heading in the right direction in Europe. Their standout performance came against FC Copenhagen, when Micky van de Ven grabbed the headlines with a stunning goal.
Tottenham retain a chance of securing automatic qualification
Tottenham’s next challenge comes against Borussia Dortmund. The Bundesliga giants are level on points with the Lilywhites (11) and also share the same goal difference. As a result, it is a must-win encounter for both sides as they aim to break into the top eight and move a step closer to securing automatic qualification for the Champions League knockout stages.
Dortmund have been in strong form in recent months, losing just two of their last 17 matches across all competitions. They are showing clear signs of momentum and could prove to be a major obstacle in Spurs’ pursuit of a top-eight finish. However, it is worth noting that the German side lost their most recent away game in the competition against English champions Manchester City, giving the Lilywhites hope of claiming a positive result.
Opta’s supercomputer has now predicted Tottenham’s chances of securing automatic qualification, as well as a play-off spot, as the group stage of the Champions League reaches its decisive phase. Spurs are projected to finish with 13.7 points from their eight group-stage fixtures, giving them a 21.1% chance of finishing in the top eight. The model also suggests that Thomas Frank’s side are almost guaranteed a play-off place, with a 79.9% probability of progressing that way.
Following the Dortmund clash, the North Londoners will travel to Germany to face Frankfurt in their final group-stage fixture of the Champions League campaign. Supporters will be hoping Spurs have already secured at least a play-off spot by then as they aim to progress deep into the competition and leave their mark in Europe. These are two challenging fixtures for the Lilywhites, but they must find a way to overcome both opponents as they look to build on last season’s Europa League success.
There remains a growing sense of uncertainty surrounding Thomas Frank’s future at N17. It appears increasingly likely that the Danish tactician may not even be in charge when Spurs travel to face Frankfurt next month. That makes the upcoming showdown against Dortmund even more significant, as the former Brentford boss will be eager to sign off in style by guiding Spurs into the next round of the Champions League.
