Spurs v Monaco: Goals at both ends for Champions League return
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Mauricio Pochettino often talked up the value of Tottenham’s myriad Europa League campaigns by insisting it would be good preparation for any eventual outing in the Champions League.
That has turned out to be some incredible foresight from the Argentine gaffer, as Spurs open their return to top-flight continental football by playing Monaco, who they faced last season in Uefa’s second tier.
The north Londoners went unbeaten against their French rivals in the two Group J tussles, but were knocked out by Borussia Dortmund in the round of 16.
Both teams upgraded their European ticket by finishing third in their respective leagues that season, and have started the current campaign similarly too.
Monaco sit unbeaten at the top of Ligue 1 having already defeated perennial champions Paris Saint-Germain. Spurs are also yet to lose, albeit they’ve crunched through the gears in their first four games culminating in a 4-0 romp of Stoke.
In their Europa League meeting at home with Les Rouges et Blancs, the Lilywhites also scored four goals. Home has a different meaning this season though, with the north Londoners heading to Wembley for their Champions League games.
How that affects performance is a complete unknown, so avoiding the match betting market – which makes the hosts 7/10 favourites, the visitors 4/1 outsiders and the draw 13/5 – is probably best avoided.
Instead it’s the 17/20 that both teams score that should get attention considering both meetings last term obliged a punt of that nature.
Half of Spurs’ four games this term have also seen goals go in at either end, while Monaco’s strike rate in that department is even better at 75 per cent.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
