Spurs to get off to the perfect start in Greece
2018/19 finalists Tottenham Hotspur look to get their 2019/20 campaign off to a good start with a tough away game, travelling to Greece to play qualifiers Olympiakos. Mauricio Pochettino’s men have had an indifferent start to the Premier League season despite finally investing in the transfer market, freshening up the squad and particularly the middle of the park with the additions of Tanguy Ndombele and Giovani Lo Celso. Last season’s Greek Super League runners-up are unbeaten at home since September 2018 so a hostile atmosphere may await Spurs.
Recent form
The Greeks enjoyed an impressive strong qualification run, taking the scalps of Viktoria Plzen, Istanbul Basaksehir and Krasnodar respectively along the way. This is Tottenham’s fourth consecutive Champions League campaign demonstrating the upward curve they have been on since the appointment of Pochettino. However, they have been poor on the road lately having won just two of their last 13 trips, though interestingly those two victories were in the Champions League.
Key men
Morocco international Youssef El Arabi has hit the ground running after signing in the summer from Al Duhail with two goals in three matches. His performance will be important if they are to breakdown the experienced Spurs backline. Though this is an opportunity for the visitors to start well in their group with the challenges of Bayern Munich and Crvena Zvezda awaiting a still relatively thin squad. The Londoners were able to save their legs having raced into a 4-0 half time lead on Saturday against a fairly inferior Crystal Palace side, thanks to some excellent finishing from the ever-improving Son Heung-Min. I would expect Lucas Moura to start in Greece, and if he can go anywhere near to replicating his heroic semi-final performance at the Amsterdam Arena, Olympiakos are in big trouble. His pace and determination will stretch the hosts and if the front three can combine like they did on Saturday then this one could be a rout.
Prediction
Spurs are favourites for this one and have been strong away from home in Europe in the recent past and so should win without little concern. Their relatively new ability to rotate slightly for this competition will be disadvantaged due to injuries coming into this one but nevertheless their starting eleven will be far superior to that of the Greek outfit’s.
Olympiakos – Tottenham Hotspur Betting Tip
Tottenham Hotspur to Win with Betfair at odds of 19/20.
Post bet chat Marcus's Tips:
Tottenham led 2-0 but agonisingly for this tip the Greeks came back to draw 2-2 and claim a valuable opening match point.