Champions League preview: Tottenham and Inter Milan prepare for White Hart Lane showdown
Tottenham and Inter Milan will face each other in a highly anticipated encounter at White Hart Lane on Tuesday, 2 November.
A win would earn Inter a spot in the knock-out round of the competition, while Spurs are mainly aiming to fend off challenges for second place in the group from Werder Bremen and FC Twente.
Only a win with a three-goal margin could see Harry Redknapp's team clinch the top spot in Group A, in which they trail Inter by three points ahead of the game.
"We've got a massive game, a great game to look forward to," Redknapp told UEFA.com ahead of the encounter. "It's fantastic for Tottenham to be playing the holders in the Champions League at White Hart Lane."
The fixture will be Benitez' first on English soil since leaving his post at Liverpool in May this year. The Spaniard, who brought the Champions League trophy to Merseyside in 2005, knows to employ careful and meticulous tactics in Europe.
Spurs likely to attack
But given the intensity of Spurs' last home fixture in the competition against FC Twente, it's unlikely that Tuesday's match will turn out to be a strategic stand-off.
Redknapp, whose side thrives on entertaining and quick football, will probably give the likes of Rafael van der Vaart and Gareth Bale the cue to go forward from the first minute.
Inter, on the other hand, would do well to lure Spurs into their half in anticipation of opportunities to counter-attack.
With Wesley Sneijder, Samuel Eto'o and the speedy Philippe Coutinho on the field, Spurs will have to be cautious not to let Inter in behind them when the Italians make rapid switches from defence to attack.
van der Vaart back in training
Despite coming off with a hamstring problem against Manchester United on Saturday, 30 October, van der Vaart trained on Monday, 1 November, and is set to partake.
Younes Kabul made his first start since September against United, and Redknapp could pick him over William Gallas. The manager's other defensive options are limited, though, as Vedran Corluka, Michael Dawson and Ledley King all remain on the sidelines.
With Heurelho Gomes suspended after bringing down Jonathan Biabiany in the first leg, Carlo Cudicini will guard the Spurs goal.
Up against him will be Diego Milito, who scored 30 goals for Inter last season and is available to Benitez after being out for three weeks. Midfielder Esteban Cambiasso and goalkeeper Julio Cesar are both out, however.
Christian Chivu, Inter's captain, was rested Genoa FC on Friday, 29 October, and should start for the Italians.
Inter's last game in England was against Chelsea in last season's Champions League. That time, Eto'o bagged the only goal of the game to give the Italians a 1–0 victory.
Under Redknapp, Spurs won all three of their games against Benitez' Liverpool side at White Hart Lane, but they also lost on both of their trips to Anfield.
Wednesday should see tactical mastery pitted against the passionate and quick English game.
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