TOTTENHAM WILL HAVE to overcome injuries to key players when they take on FC Basel in the second leg of the Europa League quarter-finals tonight.
Forwards Gareth Bale, Jermain Defoe and Aaron Lennon are all expected to miss the crucial contest in Switzerland, with the tie finely balanced after Basel managed two away goals in a 2-2 draw at White Hart Lane last Thursday.
The Swiss side surprised Spurs by scoring twice in the first half through Valentin Stocker and Fabian Frei, before Emmanuel Adebayor and Gylfi Sigurdsson restored parity, keeping Andre Villas Boas’ side in the tie.
Adebayor will again be a pivotal figure for Spurs, leading the line on his own in the absence of Defoe, while fullbacks Jan Vertonghen and Kyle Walker must provide the width with wingers Bale and Lennon missing.
Basel coach Murat Yakin will be hoping for more of the same from his players, with powerful Switzerland striker Marco Streller capable of unsettling any defence. Also today, an away goal for Fenerbahce at the Stadio Olimpico would make things tough for Lazio, who are fighting to overcome a 2-0 deficit after the first leg in Turkey. The Italian side suffered a setback in that clash, with Ogenyi Onazi shown a second yellow card after 47 minutes.
Fenerbahce took advantage with two second-half goals to take control of the tie. Lazio will need to score at least twice to keep their hopes alive, but it is also essential they prevent the Turkish side from finding the back of the net.
Blues boys
Chelsea are in good shape to progress to the semi-finals, despite facing a tough trip to Russian Premier League side Rubin Kazan. Fernando Torres scored twice in a 3-1 victory for the Blues at Stamford Bridge last week and coach Rafael Benitez will be confident of getting the away goal they need to make it difficult for the Rubin.
But the Chelsea defence will be without Ashley Cole and Gary Cahill through injury, with Ryan Bertrand deputising at left-back and either John Terry or Branislav Ivanovic to partner David Luiz in the middle.
Newcastle United must attempt to overcome a 3-1 deficit as they welcome Benfica to St James’ Park. The Portuguese side went behind to an early Papiss Cisse away goal in the first leg in Lisbon, but recovered superbly to swing the tie back in their favour.
A 2-0 victory will be the scoreline Newcastle coach Alan Pardew is aiming for, and the clean sheet kept against Fulham on Sunday will give them hope that they can prevent Benfica scoring to give themselves a chance of progression.
God bless him. Hiding being gay for years hiding the HIV also . The years and years of stress that he put himself under is sad. Always came across as a great genuine nice guy. Hope he has a long long life ahead of him still . I wish u well
@john s: did you read a different article to me? He said he has HIV, being gay was never mentioned but you assume he must be gay if he has hiv? Or did i miss something
@Karl Charlie: in fairness to John S (whoever he is) I didnt take you’re interpretation of what he’d written.
@Karl Charlie: he is gay that’s a fact do you not no who he is ?
@Karl Charlie: came out in 2009..
@Karl Charlie: in fairness to John S (whoever he is) I didn’t take your interpretation of what he’d written.
@bmul: i realised that after i googled it!! No idea who the lad is i dont follow uk sports teams
@Karl Charlie: classic example of contrived outrage….you go off on one not knowing who you are talking about….
Poor man. Seems to have been tormented all his life, both internally and externally. Medically, HIV has a different prognosis now. Socially, there’s still a stigma associated with it. Hats off to him. He’s a hell of a role model for anyone.
Best wishes to the man. He always came across as very genuine. A role model for anyone who has an interest in compassion and humanity.
We all worry about what People think, wasting our energy away, Gareth is a Wonderful Human Being, an inspiration to us all. Please God he will live many Happy years with this condition.
@tennis nut: why would his HIV status have anything to do with his rugby? I have a feeling you may need to educate yourself further if you think it does
@Vocal Outrage: because there is potential for blood contamination
@tennis nut: I’ll tell you who isn’t inspirational. A small minded bigot who doesn’t have the balls to to step out from the veil if anomomity.
@tennis nut: It’s because of judgemental people like you that causes the fear in others not to come out and say who or what they are. Watch the interview with Nigel Owens and it may help you understand where these people are and the horror they feel in having to ‘come out ‘. It may even educate you an g o d knows it seems like you need it.
@thomas patrick: You might need to educate yourself. Nowadays, if he is taking his treatment as prescribed, the virus reaches undetectable levels and is virtually untransmittable. The only recorded cases of transmission, a small number anyway, have been when patients were taking their treatment irregularly.
What’s shameful is the fact that society made it so hard for him to be who he is. Life with HIV is not what it was decades ago. Wishing him all the best. Brave man.
@Laura Mulcahy: how did society make it hard for him ? I think you ll find that when people come out they quickly find the opposite.
Wow unreal best of luck to him
@Louise Lennon: Is it Sunday?
@Darren: why does everyone automatically think he’s gay because of hiv?
@Louise Lennon: because he came out as gay years ago!!!!!!
@Louise Lennon: because he’s gay?
@Louise Lennon: The whole coming out thing made it pretty obvious Louise.
@vfagan: gay or not gay hiv is real!!
@Louise Lennon: take the shame and be out :)
@Louise Lennon: take the shame and BOW out I meant:( ;)
@Louise Lennon: stop digging Louise.