Tottenham Hotspur's last trip to Switzerland was not one that can conjure particularly happy memories in those from the North London club. BSC Young Boys ran right into a 3-0 first-half lead in both club's 2010-11 Champions League playoff as Spurs' dreams of qualifying for your competitors proper threatened to unravel. Harry Redknapp's side pulled two right back before perfectly beating Young Boys at home to progress to the group phase, but that first-leg knowledge was a reminder of the problems that have any trip to the region. Tottenham's latest Swiss journey sees them accept FC Basel in the second leg of these Europa League quarterfinal, knowing an equally hard night's work lies ahead. As they did with Young Boys having previously played out a 2-2 draw with the existing Swiss Super League table-toppers, Spurs do not go in to the sport as unfamiliar with the job at hand. Or even their current opponents, having already been found out by the power with that they were attacked by the guests at White Hart Lane a week ago. Unlike the match in 2010, the Premier League club couldn't report a playing surface of being an explanation (and even then, a poor one) synthetic turf. Basel were just that keen, and Andre Villas-Boas and his people just that ill-prepared. Valentin Stocker scored against Tottenham in the first-leg and was one of the brilliant performers for Basel.Paul Gilham/Getty Pictures At their St. Jakob-Park surface, there's every reason to believe Murat Yakin's group is going to be equally ready for the situation. They know such a thing less than a win or a 3-3 draw (the initial potential scoreline that may see them through on away objectives) for Tottenham may see them quit the Europa League, giving the Swiss one of many more significant scalps in their history. House is really a happy place for Basel too, together having lost just once there all seasona'back in August, to CFR Cluj in the Champions League. Eyes may once again be on first-leg standouts like Mohamad Salah and Valentin Stocker, although Yakin has Marcelo Diaz and Park Joo-Ho to call upon again, along with possibly Philipp Degen. Andre Villas-Boas is going to be considering his next relocate his efforts to ensure his team's period does not crumble beneath the weight of hope. Disappointing although aspects of Spurs' last two shows have been, the determination they have shown in coming back from two- and one-goal deficits (the latter against Everton) has been good. Having lived to fight a later date on the remaining two methodologies, Villas-Boas will surely be looking to discover a way to just take games to the resistance, instead of having terms dictated to them just as before. Basel certainly are a timely test in the knowledge Thursday's game is really all or nothing for the Europa League. Spurs can't pin their hopes on the get back of injured stars Aaron Lennon and Gareth Bale here; the responsibility to attack well certainly rests on this season hasn't been shone as brightly by others who. In the absence of Gareth Bale, Emmanuel Adebayor may one of the Tottenham people required to step up in his absence.Paul Gilham/Getty Images Emmanuel Adebayor will yet again lead the line upfront. Down the back of a brilliant display against Everton, expectations is likely to be on the striker setting the tone for his part. The decision of workers behind him in midfield could well be just like from the Toffees, although both Tom Huddlestone or Tom Carroll might be called upon off the trunk of positive, innovative cameos in Sunday's pull. Bill Gallas is hurt, though Villas-Boas may possibly finally have been tempted to decline him for Europe anyway, off the trunk of two poor showings. However, the combination the Spurs defense will in actuality be made up of is getting as hard to estimate as lottery figures recently. Though perhaps too early for this sport, centre-back Younes Kaboul made a welcome return to action on Monday in the Tottenham Under-21s 1-1 draw with West Ham United. Unlike Basel (who perform Hamilton Academical Zurich), their attentions can be focused by Tottenham fully on the Europa League without category sport after this weekend. Their planned fitting against Chelsea has been delayed as a result of the Blues' FA Cup semifinal on Sunday. No excuse then for a significantly less than fully-committed performance from Spurs? We will see.
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