Predicted Spurs XI to face Olympiacos in the UEFA Champions League

Tottenham returned to winning ways in the Premier League after the international break with a 4-0 drubbing of London rivals Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Mauricio Pochettino now turns his attention to the UEFA Champions League, with last year’s finalists set to kick start their European campaign this time around with a trip to Greece to face Olympiacos on Matchday 1.

The Lilywhites find themselves drawn alongside Red Star Belgrade, Bayern Munich and Olympiacos in Group B and Pochettino will know that three points on Matchday 1 could go a long way towards ensuring qualification to the last 16 from what looks like a tricky group on paper. 

Olympiacos booked their berth in the group stages of the competition with a victory over FC Krasnodar in the playoffs and they will be looking to outwit Spurs in front of a raucous home crowd on Wednesday. 

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Pochettino will be without the services of his compatriots Giovani Lo Celso (groin) and Juan Foyth (ankle), while Kyle Walker-Peters and Davinson Sanchez are on the comeback trail from their spells on the sidelines.

With a difficult trip away to Leicester City coming up on Saturday, the manager might rotate his squad and opt for a few fresh faces to start against Olympiacos. 

Predicted XI

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Hugo Lloris (GK)

The Frenchman has been a figure of reliability between the sticks for Spurs this season and there are hardly any questions over his role in goal. 

Serge Aurier (RB)

The Ivorian put in a solid all-round performance on his return to the playing eleven against Crystal Palace this weekend and he certainly deserves another start.

Toby Alderweireld (CB)

The Belgian hardly had anything to do in the comprehensive 4-0 victory over Palace but he has to be at the top of his game to cope with a potent Olympiacos attack. 

Jan Vertonghen (CB)

Sanchez was not even in the matchday squad for the Premier League game against Palace and the veteran might continue alongside his compatriot at the heart of the defence. 

Ben Davies (LB)

The Welshman is yet to start a Premier League game this term but Pochettino might want to give Danny Rose a bit of a breather for the midweek clash. 

Tanguy Ndombele (CDM)

The club-record signing came on as a substitute in the Premier League on Saturday but he is likely to be in line for a starting role in the Champions League. 

Moussa Sissoko (CDM)

The Frenchman has established himself as one of the mainstays of Tottenham’s midfield over the past twelve months and his work rate and well-rounded attributes are indispensable to the team. 

Heung-min Son (LW)

He returned to form with a brace against Palace and Spurs will need him to make a big impact once again on Wednesday. 

Dele Alli (RW)

The Englishman didn’t come off the bench in the Premier League victory over Palace but he is likely to be amongst the starters for this one. 

Christian Eriksen (CAM)

Spurs will once again rely on their influential playmaker to pull the strings from a No.10 role and he has so often proven himself to be the difference-maker for the Lilywhites. 

Harry Kane (ST)

Spurs will need their indispensable weapon in the final third to fire on all cylinders if they are to come away with a positive result from the trip to Greece.