CARDS specialist Chris Goodwin (@CGeorgeGamble) picks out his favourite fancies from Thursday night's Europa League showdown between Spurs and Antwerp.
Antwerp vs Tottenham | Thursday 29th October 2020, 17:55 | BT Sport
Jose Mourinho and his in-form Spurs side travel to the Bosuilstadion to take on current Belgian leaders, Royal Antwerp. Both teams got off to the perfect start in Group J by sealing maximum points, overcoming LASK Linz and Ludogorets respectively.
Spurs have had an exceptionally busy start to their season, successfully qualifying for the Europa League group stages by winning three qualifying matches. Despite the fixture pile-up, it’s not deterred the Spurs boss from fielding near enough full-strength sides in each fixture.
Domestic success will be the goal for the North-Londoners, but they’ll be quietly confident that they can go a long way in this competition given their strong start to the season.
The hosts have also got off to a flying start as they currently sit top of the Belgian league table with an unbeaten home record. They know it would send a message to get a win over the visitors and they will be quietly confident, given their goalscoring form on home soil so far in this campaign.
Key stats
Antwerp:
- Are currently on a FIVE match winning run across all competitions.
- Are unbeaten in their last SEVEN games and are yet to lose a competitive game at home so far this season.
- Over 2.5 goals has landed in SEVEN of their last SEVEN games. Both teams have also scored in every one of those fixtures.
- Have scored in all FIVE home games so far this season.
- Antwerp have scored in the second half in each of their last SEVEN games.
Antwerp Team news:
- Head coach Ivan Leko is without injured quartet Matheus, Aurelio Buta, Sander Coopman and Alexis de Sart for the welcome of Tottenham.
- The Royal Antwerp boss could name the same XI that secured a 2-1 victory at Ludogorets Razgrad last time out.
Tottenham:
- Over 2.5 goals has landed in EIGHT of Spurs last NINE Europa League (UEL) games.
- Have won their last FOUR UEL matches.
- Have scored at least THREE goals in their last THREE UEL games.
- Have been winning at both half time and full time in their last THREE UEL matches.
- Are unbeaten in all competitions since their opening weekend loss to Everton and have won every away match so far this season.
- Have scored in the second half in each of their last FIVE matches away from home.
Tottenham Team News:
- Japhet Tanganga is the only confirmed absentee from the squad.
- Steven Bergwijn and Serge Aurier will both face late fitness tests having missed the 1-0 win over Burnley on Monday night.
- New signing Joe Rodon is ineligible.
- Mourinho could potentially name a similar starting eleven to the one that overcame LASK 3-0, which would see Ben Davies slot in at centre-back with Lucas Moura and Gareth Bale either side of Carlos Vinicius.
- Giovani Lo Celso may feature as he looks to gain match fitness.
Referee:
Maurizio Mariani – Averages 3.25 yellow cards per game in the UEL.
Analysis
My first pick is for there to be 3+ goals, both teams to score and under FIVE cards. When both of these sides have taken to the field this season, goals have been almost a certainty. In fact, the home side’s last SEVEN games has seen THREE or more goals. Meanwhile, Spurs have seen this line land in EIGHT of their last NINE UEL games.
Antwerp have scored in every single home game this season and did extremely well last time out in this competition, scoring TWO against a tough Ludogorets side away from home. I’ve also gone with under FIVE cards to finish off this selection, Antwerp don’t see too many at home normally and Spurs UEL games this season have generally seen a low number of cards – seeing under 5 in 75% of their UEL matches so far this season.
Secondly, for similar reasoning as above, I’m going with Tottenham to see under THREE cards and for there to be THREE or more goals. This bet has landed in all FOUR of Spurs UEL games so far this season.
My last pick for this one is simply a price play. I’m going with Spurs to score in both halves and also to see 3+ corners in each half.
Yes, Royal Antwerp are unbeaten at home this season and have scored in all of their home games, however, both teams have also scored in FOUR of the FIVE games they’ve played at home so far.
This exact bet also landed in Spurs last UEL, game against LASK Linz. I think at a huge 8/1, this offers excellent value.
Best Bets
Antwerp vs Tottenham – Over 2 Goals, Both Teams To Score and Under 5 Cards (15/8 Bet365)
Antwerp vs Tottenham – Under 3 Tottenham Cards and Over 2 Goals (20/21 Bet365)
Antwerp vs Tottenham – Tottenham To Score In Both Halves and 3+ Corners Each Half (8/1 Betfair)
