Tottenham vs. Asteras Tripolis: Breaking Down Spurs' Europa League Opponents

Tottenham host Greek club Asteras Tripolis in their third Europa League group match this Thursday, still searching for their first win. 

Draws with Partizan Belgrade and Besiktas have left Spurs third in Group C. Asteras currently sit top of the group with four points from their opening two fixtures. 

Asteras are a remarkable success story. Having competed in Greece's fourth division as recently as 2003, they have risen swiftly and have achieved three consecutive top-six finishes in the Greek top flight. With that have come three successive European campaigns.

In 2012 and 2013, they were eliminated in the qualifying rounds so this is their first-ever season in the group stage of European competition. En route to the group stage, Asteras eliminated Mainz and Maccabi Tel Aviv. 

Staikos Vergetis is Asteras' 12th coach since 2006. Something of an Andre Villas-Boas type, Vergetis moved up through the coaching ranks to become Greece's youngest top-flight manager. Gennaro Gattuso has since taken that record.

Despite their size, Asteras are not to be underestimated. They have won three of their last four matches, conceding just once. In their 2-0 win over Partizan on Matchday 2, Asteras blew the Serbians away. Twenty-two shots on goal despite conceding the majority of possession to the visitors suggest that Asteras are adept at playing on the break. Both of their goals came in that fashion. 

Their team is far less monochromatic than many of the sides Spurs have faced in the Europa League in the past with 10 different nationalities represented in their squad. Spanish captain Fernando Usero joined the club from Elche in 2011 and has become the driving force in their midfield. He opened the scoring against Partizan and will be key to Asteras' hopes in north London. 

Asteras boast an all-Argentine strikeforce of Facundo Parra, Pablo Mazza and Jeronimo Barrales. Barrales is an aggressive and skilful lone striker with Parra and Mazza supporting from deep. He has conceded eight fouls in the competition already and is sure to test Tottenham's defence. Parra has scored twice in as many Europa League matches so far having played just 80 minutes. 

Spurs have been underwhelming in Europe so far. The goalless draw against Partizan was encouraging but Spurs failed to make the most of their opportunities. The lack of clinical finishing has been a problem for Spurs in all competitions this season but it was particularly evident in Belgrade. 

There were no such problems at home to Besiktas. The Turkish side dominated and would have won without the heroic performance of goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. 

Vergetis usually sets out his team in a similar style to Spurs with two holding midfielders with an attacking line of three behind a single striker.

Mauricio Pochettino is likely to use this match as a "live-fire exercise." That is, an opportunity to implement his high-pressing, aggressive tactics against a genuine opposition, though one not expected to cause too many problems. 

Harry Kane should be handed a starting role after his solid display against Besiktas. Kane is developing rapidly and stands to benefit from Tottenham's paucity of options in attack. 

Pochettino's selection in central defence will be curious. Jan Vertonghen was omitted against Manchester City so he will be fresh but the manager may choose to hold him back for Sunday's Premier League match vs. Newcastle. Federico Fazio, suspended from domestic action, will likely be selected while Vlad Chiriches is still injured. It remains to be seen whether Pochettino will persist with the Younes Kaboul-Federico Fazio partnership or rest Kaboul for Sunday. 

If Chiriches does feature, he will come face-to-face with his international defensive partner Dorin Goian. The Romanian centre-back, formerly of Rangers and Palermo, is probably Asteras' biggest name. At 196 cm tall, Goian is an intimidating figure at the back for Asteras. 

Andros Townsend and Paulinho will likely also be selected as Pochettino prefers to rotate heavily for midweek fixtures. 

Kyle Naughton and Nabil Bentaleb have both been ruled out of the match through injury. There is the possibility that one of Spurs' exciting young right backs could be handed a debut. Kyle Walker-Peters has impressed at youth level and is poised to make the jump. 

Tottenham should make short work of Asteras Tripolis. The Greek side are one of the weakest teams that Spurs have met in Europe in many years. Compact and defensive, with a penchant for playing quick breaks, they are not without some threat but Spurs should be able to deal easily with them.  

This match gives Spurs the opportunity to produce a performance of real quality and make a statement. One of the favourites to win the tournament, they should easily top their group in the season's Europa League and a victory would see them move ahead of both Asteras and Besiktas.