What Spurs need to do to secure top spot in Conference League Group G
With the end of the Europa Conference League group stage fast approaching, Tottenham’s future in the competition is not yet set in stone Antonio Conte’s side are gearing up to face NS Mura in what is a crucial encounter in Slovenia for Spurs’ progression and outlook in the competition. Currently, Spurs are second in […]
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With the end of the Europa Conference League group stage fast approaching, Tottenham’s future in the competition is not yet set in stone
Antonio Conte’s side are gearing up to face NS Mura in what is a crucial encounter in Slovenia for Spurs’ progression and outlook in the competition.
Currently, Spurs are second in Group G with seven points, just one clear of Vitesse Arnhem in third and three behind leaders Rennes, and are at risk of not being able to directly qualify for the knockout round.
Unlike in the Champions League where group the top two teams from each group advance to the knockout stages, the eight second-place sides in the Europa Conference League are entered into a playoff against teams that finish third in their respective groups in the Europa League.
With Rennes hosting Vitesse on match-week five, Spurs will be hoping for the French side to drop points, however, they can still finish top even without that.
Should teams end up on exactly the same points at the end of the group stage, points in head-to-head matches between said clubs are taken into account before goal difference as a tiebreaker.
As such, for Spurs to stand a chance of qualifying directly into the knockout stages, Conte’s men first need to secure three points against NS Mura, which would set the side up for the all-important final group game against Rennes.
With Spurs securing a 2-2 draw against the French side in September, a win in N17 would then secure top spot for the Lilywhites, as well as direct qualification for the group stages by virtue of a better head-to-head record.
Should all things pan out and fall in Spurs’ favour, top spot would crucially avoid the side having to endure two play-off fixtures set in February against Europa League opposition.
Spurs Web Opinion
The scenario is simple for Spurs – two wins and you’re in. Unfortunately, there is a little tinge of pressure in terms of the side being in this scenario in the first place, but no doubt it is something Conte will want to take seriously and resolve.
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