Tottenham Begin Europa League Journey Against Qarabag: Postecoglou's First European Test.

Ange Postecoglou speaking to the Media ahead of Tottenham's Europa League tie against Qarabag.

Tottenham will kick off their Europa League campaign later today, with Ange Postecoglou’s squad set to face Qarabag FK at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

After consecutive Premier League losses to Newcastle United and Arsenal, Spurs bounced back in their last match, coming from behind to defeat Brentford 3-1. Next up for Postecoglou is his first experience of European football as Tottenham's manager, with Azerbaijani side Qarabag serving as their opening opponent in this new Europa League phase.

This season, the Europa League has shifted away from the traditional group stage, introducing a league phase instead. Tottenham will now play eight games, with the top eight out of 36 teams advancing directly to the Europa League round of 16. Postecoglou is expected to make some changes to the squad that beat Brentford on Saturday, keeping in mind their upcoming match at Old Trafford.

Cristian Romero was sent off during Tottenham’s last European game against Milan in 2023, meaning he’s suspended for today’s match. Radu Dragusin is set to replace him in the lineup. Wilson Odobert and Richarlison remain sidelined due to injury, but Yves Bissouma is available again after making a substitute appearance last weekend. Pape Matar Sarr, Lucas Bergvall, and Archie Gray are likely to feature in the starting XI for Spurs.

Predicted lineup: Vicario; Gray, Dragusin, Van de Ven, Udogie; Bissouma, Bergvall, Sarr; Johnson, Solanke, Werner.

For Qarabag, defender Kevin Medina is suspended after being sent off in their Champions League play-off against Dinamo Zagreb, with Abbas Huseynov likely stepping in. Additionally, Shahrudin Mahammadaliyev and Amin Ramazanov are both unavailable due to injury, with Ramazanov out long-term with an ACL tear.

Qarabag have shown in past Europa League performances that they can be tough competitors, almost upsetting Bayer Leverkusen in the round of 16 last season. However, their recent loss to Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League qualifiers might indicate a dip in form. Tottenham, who had struggled in attack prior to their weekend victory, will hope to continue their momentum.

While Qarabag aren’t expected to dominate, they’ll likely make it difficult for Spurs to break them down, creating a potentially challenging match for Postecoglou's side. Nevertheless, Spurs should be confident after their win against Brentford.

Prediction: Tottenham 3-1 Qarabag.