Again-to-back 2-0 victories over German opposition noticed Tottenham scale to the lofty heights of fourth within the league part desk. Because of this, the Europa League champions can have February off and have ample time to organize for the spherical of 16.
Positive, the schedule was form, however we as a fanbase, having endured NS Murs, Dinamo Zagreb, Vitesse, Royal Antwerp, and many others, and many others, shouldn’t scoff at such environment friendly work on the continent. Thomas Frank and his gamers have allow us to down domestically, however to this point have delivered underneath the lights.
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In earlier years, we may’ve had eight potential opponents within the spherical of 16. By the point the playoff spherical concludes, there will likely be simply two, however for now, .
Friday’s playoff draw has pitted Juventus in opposition to Galatasaray and Atltico Madrid in opposition to Membership Brugge. The winners of these two ties will meet both Spurs or Liverpool within the following spherical.
This is how I rank the 4 potential choices based mostly on choice. Fourth is who I might least prefer to see us paired in opposition to.
4. Juventus
Spurs’ Champions League exit to Juve in 2018 was arduous to take. | Craig Mercer – CameraSport/GettyImages
Juventus might have ended the league part with a colorless draw in opposition to Monaco, however I believe they’re essentially the most harmful of our 4 potential opponents underneath Luciano Spalletti.
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The Scudetto winner with Napoli has helped Juventini shortly overlook the dreariness of Igor Tudor’s reign. Spalletti’s obtained the Bianconeri taking part in some fantastic soccer, and so they’ve all of a sudden emerged as outsiders within the Serie A title race after thumping Antonio Conte’s Napoli 3-0.
This can be a youngish Juve workforce, however there’s Champions League heritage in abundance and I believe that pedigree issues within the knockout rounds. After all, there’s the famous person expertise of Kenan Yildiz in assault, whereas Gleison Bremer’s return from damage has steadied them defensively. The midfield’s purring, too, with Manuel Locatelli and Khephren Thuram in tremendous type.
There’s scope for Spalletti’s dynamic framework to overwhelm Frank’s extra primitive strategy, and the Italians additionally boast the inherent grit to see out two-legged ties.
Assembly Juve within the spherical of 16 is not any catastrophe, although. The truth is, I might stay up for this tie. Whereas solely the injured Ben Davies was round for our merciless knockout stage defeat in 2018, there must be a vengeful temper in N17 ought to we encounter the Previous Girl once more.
3. Atltico Madrid
Diego Simeone has reached two Champions League finals. | Europa Press Sports activities/GettyImages
Atltico Madrid generally is a actual ache, however their observe file in Europe since final reaching the ultimate in 2016 is fairly underwhelming.
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The 2-time finalists underneath Diego Simeone have since reached the semi-finals simply as soon as. Twice they’ve fallen within the group phases, and twice they’ve collapsed within the second leg of a knockout tie after profitable the primary leg at dwelling.
If the return leg was in Madrid, I reckon I might have Madrid fourth. I do not fancy a visit to the Metropolitano with a spot within the quarter-finals at stake, even when Bod/Glimt strolled into the capital on Wednesday and prolonged their maiden Champions League marketing campaign by beating Atlti 2-1.
This is not an amazing Atlti workforce, and so they have not been particular underneath Simeone for fairly a while. I do not the 2 video games could be fairly, however Frank’s Lilywhites would have each probability of prevailing in a low-scoring knockout tie.
2. Membership Brugge
Membership Brugge are beginning to make a reputation for themselves on this competitors. | NICOLAS TUCAT/GettyImages
I used to be shocked that Membership Brugge made a managerial change on the finish of 2025, with Ivan Leko coming in to switch Nicky Hayen. Hayen was chargeable for guiding Brugge into the spherical of 16 final season, however home struggles in 2025/26 supposedly satisfied the board to make a change.
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Journeyman Leko had massive boots to fill, and internet hosting Arsenal merely hours after being appointed meant the Croatian did not get off to the most effective of begins. Since then, although, Brugge have been rampant. Their free-scoring run crucially continued on the ultimate day of the league part, as they thumped Marseille 3-0 to make the playoffs.
I favored Brugge’s steadiness in possession underneath Hayen, and so they’re equally dynamic and explosive underneath the brand new supervisor. Carlos Forbs is electrical in transition, Hans Vanaken is an underrated grasp of his commerce, and Aleksandar Stankovi will quickly earn an enormous transfer, however they may also give up probabilities defensively.
They loved a superb run in Europe final season, however Spurs may exploit Brugge’s relative lack of expertise on the massive stage.
1. Galatasaray
A depleted Spurs have been crushed in Istanbul final season. | OZAN KOSE/GettyImages
I do not take care of the massive names, in fact. Victor Osimhen, Leroy San, lkay Gndoan and Davinson have been all as soon as or stay elite (okay, possibly not Massive Dav), however Galatasaray stay incomplete as a collective.
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Journeys to Istanbul will be daunting, and the place will likely be electrical for a possible spherical of 16 first leg, however we noticed the now-eliminated Union Saint-Gilloise rock as much as RAMS Park within the league part, tame the ferocity, and steal all three factors.
Whereas the cash they’ve splashed suggests Gala are able to make a reputation for themselves on the largest stage, the Turkish champions didn’t win their remaining 4 league part outings and now should bypass a resurgent Juve to achieve the final 16. Victory over the Italian giants would ignite perception and render them harmful, maybe forcing me to rethink.
At this second in time, although, I do not purchase ’em.
This text was initially printed on www.hotspurhq.com as .