Besiktas vs Tottenham team news: 10 changes made by Mauricio Pochettino for Europa League fixture in Turkey

Spurs can finish as group leaders with a draw

Guido de Boer
Thursday 11 December 2014 18:42 GMT
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Spurs Manager Mauricio Pocchetino has made 10 changes to his starting XI for tonight's Europa League tie against Besiktas. Striker Roberto Soldado is the only survivor since Tottenham’s game last Saturday against Crystal Palace.

Emmanuel Adebayor was granted to fly back to his home country, Togo, for personal reasons and will not be present tonight.

Full back Kyle Walker will make his long-awaited return to the starting line-up after being sidelined by an abdominal injury since March.

Anything but a loss tonight will see Tottenham secure the status of group-winners and will avoid the best of the Champions League drop outs in the knock out stages.

Young stars Harry Winks and Josh Onomah are set to feature after being named in the matchday squad, while Captain Younes Kaboul could return at the heart of the visitors' defence after a spell on the bench.

Tottenham defender Ben Davies stressed the fact ahead of the game how important it is his team avoids defeat tonight and finish ahead of the rest of their group.

“If you look at the teams we are likely to play next, if we win the group or finish second, it is very important for us,” said the Davies.

“It is a game we are taking very seriously and we can’t afford to slack off.”

Besiktas will be without former Chelsea striker Demba Ba who suffered a broken toe in their last game and will not be risked. Ba was responsible for the equaliser in the first leg at White Hart Lane earlier this season when he converted a late penalty for the visitors.

Spurs XI: Vorm; Walker, Chiriches, Kaboul, Rose; Dembele, Stambouli; Townsend, Paulinho, Chadli; Soldado.

Subs: Lloris, Lennon, Lamela, Fazio, Capoue, Davies, Onomah

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