Spurs commence their 2022/23 Champions League campaign against Olympique Marseille of France on Wednesday night, kick-off at 8 pm BST. This Group D curtain raiser is our first Champions League match since March 2020, where a depleted Spurs missing Harry Kane and Heung-min Son crashed out to RB Leipzig in the last sixteen 4-0 on aggregate.
Luckily, we will be able to count on the services of the deadly duo this time around, but whether or not we will see both take to the field remains to be seen, with matches now coming thick and fast, both continentally and domestically.
Indeed, Antonio Conte has decisions to make as far as rotation is concerned. Given that this is our first match of the group, we need to get off to as fast of a start as possible, making it likely that we do see both Kane and Son from the off
However, with Richarlison impressing against Fulham (as he has done in every other appearance he has made this season, in all fairness to him), will we see him or Kulusevski displace our beloved double act, or is it a shoot-out between the Swede and the Brazilian for the last spot in our front three?
Conte is yet to address the media ahead of the match, but it would be safe to assume that we will be unable to rely on the services of Lucas Moura and Bryan Gil, who have been out of action for the past few weeks, and are showing no imminent signs of returning to the matchday fold. Given that neither has yet to start this season anyway, this isn’t a significant issue, as we live in a world where neither is seriously threatening the aforementioned attacking quartet.
Nevertheless, Conte has a mini-selection headache regarding the backline and midfield pivot. Does he rest one of Hojbjerg or Bentancur to bring in Bissouma? I would expect him to resist this temptation, with an added emphasis on retaining Bentancur in particular due to his ability to beat the opposition press. With Marseille renowned for their intensity, his slick passing ability and tight ball control will be vital to playing through them.
Moreover, will Conte be tempted to shuffle the wing-backs? I can’t see Royal being dropped, as he has started every game this season, and his conservative style may come in handy against the visitors’ press. Regarding the left-flank, I can foresee Perisic’s European experience and pedigree being called upon, with the fresh legs of Sessegnon on standby from the bench if needs be.
I would stick with the same back three that saw out the victory against Fulham, as Marseille’s frantic pressing style is likely to cause Sanchez problems on the ball when we play out from defence. Therefore, the more comfortable passing outlets we have from the back, the better. That said, you could flip a coin as to who starts between Lenglet and Davies; although the former’s passing out from the back is likely to come in handy, as well as his experience in Ligue Un and the Champions League.
Our opponents have few injury issues to contend with. According to Sports Mole, Dimitri Payet is likely to miss Wednesday’s encounter with a calf problem. Defender Samuel Gigot is out with an unspecified injury, with strikers Cedric Bakambu and Bamba Dieng also absent following their omission from Marseille’s Champions League squad.
The report thus states that we can expect to see many an ex-Gunner in the visitors’ line-up, with Sead Kolasinac, Alexis Sanchez, Nuno Taveres, and Matteo Guendouzi all expected to start. Anyone in attendance Wednesday night, have your boos at the ready…
Although Marseille is the lowest ranked club in Group D, ranking in 35th place, after Spurs in 11th, Sporting Lisbon in 24th, and Eintracht Frankfurt in 29th according to Euro Club Index, they are no mugs, having ended up as last season’s Ligue Un runners-up and Europa League Conference League semi-finalists. They have also kicked off their domestic campaign like a house on fire, with five wins and a draw from their opening six games in Ligue Un (read more on our opponents in a piece I wrote yesterday here).
As always in the Champions League, a tough match awaits, but if our levels vaguely resemble anything like the stuff we served against Fulham on Saturday (bar the wastefulness in the final third and defensive lapses), then we should have too much for Les Olympiens. COYS!