Champions League preview: Tottenham can ensure knock-out qualification against Werder Bremen
Tottenham will look to secure their place in the knock-out stages of the Champions League as Werder Bremen visit White Hart Lane on Wednesday 24 November.
Bremen's European season is on the line in the game, as the Germans would retain a slight chance of qualifying if they overcome Spurs.
"This will be a cup final for us," Bremen defender Per Mertesacker told reporters ahead of the game. "We know any other result for us will be the end of our chances so we have to only focus on the win."
Redknapp's team, on the other hand, are in with a chance of booking their place in the knock-out phase and coming one step closer to topping the group ahead of Inter Milan.
The teams' last encounter in the first round of the group stage ended in a 2–2 draw after an own goal and a header by Crouch were cancelled out by the home team's Hugo Almeida and Marko Marin.
Spurs, who are making their first appearance in the Champions League after finishing fourth in the Premier League last season, have provided ample entertainment in their fixtures to date, with at least
four goals being scored in all of thier matches so far.
Given Bremen's defensive form, the odds are in favour of Spurs hitting several goals past Wednesday's visitors. Thomas Schaaf's team are 12th in the Bundesliga with a whopping 31 goals conceded in the
13 games they have played so far.
Crouch to return for Spurs
Peter Crouch, who came on to score for Fabio Capello's England team against France on 17 November, will likely return to Spurs' starting lineup after coming on as a second-half substitute against Arsenal
on Saturday 20 November.
Playmaker Rafael van der Vaart, who has scored in all but one of his appearances at White Hart Lane since his arrival in August, is likely to lurk just behind Crouch in the free role Redknapp often affords
the sublime Dutchman.
Gareth Bale, currently the highest scorer in this year's Champions League with four goals to his name — all of which have come against defending champions Inter — will have the eyes of spectators and Europe's
top clubs on him again on Wednesday.
Bremen skipper Frings suspended
Bremen will be without Torsten Frings, the team's captain, while former Arsenal defender Mikael Silvestre and striker Marko Arnautovic miss the encounter with a back injury and a thigh problem respectively.
Frings will be suspended for his foul on FC Twente's Bryan Ruiz in the teams' fixture on 2 November.
Spurs have five wins and one draw in their six previous home encounters with German teams, but Bremen will be the first team to represent Germany at White Hart Lane in the Champions League.
Bremen have travelled to England twice before, and both games have come during Shaaf's reign at the club.
In the 1999–00 season, Bremen lost to Arsenal at Highbury before suffering defeat at the hands of Chelsea in the 2006–07 group stage, with both games ending 2–0 in favour of the Premier League teams.
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