Tottenham Hotspur vs. LASK Linz – prediction & team news

Tottenham Hotspur have the chance to get last weekend’s shock capitulation against West Ham United out of their system when they take on LASK Linz in the Europa League on Thursday.

Spurs somehow chucked away a three-goal lead with eight minutes to go to draw 3-3 with their London rivals, putting a bit of a blemish on their start to the campaign.

Austrian side LASK enter this opening Group J clash in good form, meanwhile, having won six of their opening nine matches in 2020-21.

Reason for Tottenham Hotspur vs LASK Linz predictions:

  • Both teams have scored in eight of Tottenham’s nine competitive games this season.
  • Spurs have averaged three goals per game in their nine competitive games this term.
  • LASK have scored in eight of their last nine Europa League fixtures.
  • Spurs have scored 2 goals or more in 12 of their last 20 home games.
  • LASK Linz have conceded at least 2 goals in 3 of their last 10 away games.
  • The last time Spurs failed to score at home in the cup was a 0-1 loss to RB Leipzig in February this year.
  • The last time LASK Linz kept a clean sheet away in the cup was in a 0-0 draw against PSV in October 2019.
  • Spurs striker Harry Kane has scored 28 goals in 50 appearances in major European competition, though he has failed to score in his last four matches in the Europa League.

Spurs suffered a surprise last-32 defeat at the hands of Gent last time around, but they have successfully navigated the group stage in their last four attempts.

Mourinho will be hoping for the safest passage possible through to the knockout stages, while at the same time attempting to juggle the onslaught of domestic fixtures.
This will be Spurs’ first match against LASK. Tottenham have a little more experience of facing Austrian sides, meanwhile, having defeated SV Stockerau twice and FK Austria Wien once in their previous four such encounters.
Another win for Spurs will go a long way to putting the West Ham result behind them, although as ever with the Lily whites you can never be certain of what is around the corner.

LASK illustrated their inferiority last season when they lost 7-1 on aggregate to Manchester United in the Europa League, and we’re expecting another defeat for them here.

LASK beat Sporting Lisbon in the final qualifying round and have won four of their last five matches in all competitions, so they cannot be written off.

However, they have scored in eight of their last nine matches in the competition and, considering the hosts’ defensive issues, backing both teams to score could be a good option.

Even accounting for the mass changes Mourinho is likely to make, however, Tottenham boast enough squad depth to kick off their Group J campaign with all three points.

Our prediction: Over 2.5 @ 1.5



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