La Liga

Both teams will be desperate for the points, with newly promoted Granada still to seal their top flight status while Sevilla know they will need to win if they’re to have any chance of making a late run for the European places.

The home side have been in shocking form of late, having lost four of their last five matches in the league. However, they may have garnered some confidence from their last match when despite losing 5-3 at Barcelona, they caused the Blaugrana a number of problems and at one stage looked as if they had done enough to earn a vital point at the Nou Camp.

Their inability to avoid conceding once again showed them up and following the news that talismanic defender Pape Diakhate has been ruled out for the season, the ‘El Grana’ rear-guard is likely to come under even more scrutiny.

However, they have the talent and experience to keep a clean sheet and in veteran Noe Pamarot, they have a player who knows what it’s like to defend at the top level. The former Spurs man will undoubtedly need to put in a strong performance on Monday and his contribution could see his side sneak a vital win (Granada 13/2 to win 1-0).

Sevilla have once again flattered to deceive this season and, having won just one of their last four outings, hardly deserve to have any success. However, due to the nature of the league this year, a win on Monday would see them move into the top half of the table and leave them just two wins from the Champions League spots.

Despite their continued struggles, there is no doubt that with the talent at their disposal, they should be much higher in the league (Sevilla 6/1 to win 1-0).

One such star who seems to typify this is the recently re-signed winger Jose Antonio Reyes. The former Arsenal man returned to the club in January and many expected he would finally start to prove his worth after years of struggling to justify his reputation. Although there’s no doubt he has impressed during his latest stint at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, he is yet to find the net for Michel’s side. He will be looking to break his duck in this local derby.

Reyes’ ability could see his side home in what could be a tight match. Every season a team makes a late run for the European places and it could be Sevilla’s turn this time around so look out for them to take the points in a single goal victory (Sevilla 17/2 to win 2-1).

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AC Milan v Spurs

These two sides enjoyed contrasting fortunes in the group stages with Spurs defying all the doubters to win Group A which included defending champions Inter, losing just one game and ending the phase as the tournament’s joint-leading scorers with 18.

Milan, though, made it through as a runner-up to Real Madrid with the fewest number of points as a qualifier, just eight, while they were the joint-lowest scorers of those teams that made it after mustering just seven goals.

The Italian powerhouse have struggled against English opposition since last lifting the trophy in 2007, having been beaten at this stage by Arsenal in 2008 and Manchester United by an aggregate 7-2 last year, while they were also held to a draw by Portsmouth in the UEFA Cup group stages in 2008/09.

However, it is hard to see that run continuing this week and Milan look good value at 8/11 in the match betting to at least establish a first-leg lead with a win.

Milan have found their form since the turn of the year and are unbeaten in 2011, preparing for this clash with a 4-0 demolition of Parma at the San Siro last Saturday to maintain a three-point lead at the top of Serie A as the Rossoneri look for their first domestic league title since 2004.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic (4/1 to score the first goal) has found a new lease of life at Milan, leading the goal-scoring charts with 18 for the season, and will head a quality attacking triumvirate alongside the Brazilian duo of Alexandre Pato and Robinho.

There are one or two injury worries for coach Massimiliano Allegri as Andrea Pirlo and Massimo Ambrosini are ruled out, while January arrivals Antonio Cassano, Mark van Bommel and Urby Emanuelson are cup-tied.

However, Spurs have greater problems over selection despite the return of Rafael van der Vaart and will struggle to contain the Rossoneri on Tuesday.

Gareth Bale’s impressive performances against Inter in the group stages catapulted him into the transfer limelight but he has been ruled out of the first leg as he has not recovered from a back problem.

Although the Wales ace scored a hat-trick on Spurs’ last trip to the San Siro, it should be worth noting that the visitors were played off the park in the first half, trailing 4-0 at the break, and ultimately lost the match, albeit 4-3.

Playmaker Luka Modric is also a major doubt following appendicitis, Peter Crouch is struggling with a back injury and Jermaine Jenas is suspended – while Tom Huddlestone, Ledley King and Younes Kabboul are long-term absentees.

Spurs go into the game on the back of a three-match Premier League winning streak but have been eking out results rather than dominating – and look set to struggle against an in-form Milan outfit.

Valencia v Schalke 04

Valencia do not boast a great record against German opposition but are the form side going into this encounter and look worthy 7/10 favourites in the match betting on Tuesday, with Schalke on offer at 18/5 and the draw at 13/5.

Los Che have failed to win any of their last six home games against German sides, drawing five and losing one, with Schalke holding the hosts to a goalless affair in 2007/08 in the Champions League group stages.

However, Unai Emery’s men have gone on a six match-winning streak since a 4-2 reverse against Villarreal in the Copa del Rey and have now climbed to third in the table.

Schalke’s form domestically has been erratic, although they have been creeping up the table after an awful start to the campaign.

Felix Magath’s men were able to put their Bundesliga troubles behind them in the group stages, topping Group B after winning four matches and losing just one.

Valencia’s recent form has been too good to ignore though, and after warming up with a 2-1 at Atletico Madrid, they are expected to edge a low-scoring affair (Under 2.5 goals at 8/13).

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Tottenham

The revolving door at White Hart Lane will be busy as it looks likely that Robbie Keane, David Bentley and possibly Niko Kranjcar could be on their way out, but the bigger question bothering Spurs fan must be: who will come in? And can they help them win the big prize? The signing of Beckham would undoubtedly increase shirt sales but might make little difference on the pitch, so who could really help make Spurs genuine title contenders?

Gary Cahill

One signing who could make a huge difference to help Spurs is Gary Cahill. The Bolton defender has been a revelation in recent seasons and it is no surprise to see his name linked with the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal (10/3 to win Premier League title).

Cahill, 25, has been very impressive during his time at the Reebok Stadium and he looks a defender who could be a star at club and international level for years to come.

Harry has prided himself on having quality English talent among his Spurs squad and arguably he would have the best English centre-back pairing around if he had Cahill alongside Michael Dawson.

At this point in time there are a lot of defenders at White Hart Lane, but with constant question marks over Ledley King and Jonathan Woodgate when it comes to fitness, William Gallas when it comes to age and temperament and the questionable quality of Younes Kaboul, then getting Cahill’s signature would benefit Spurs not just this season, but for years to come.

Andy Carroll

Up front Spurs’ strikers have not sparked as you would expect. Jermain Defoe can score goals but does little else, while Peter Crouch is good in the air but struggles to really score consistently. So Harry should sign someone who can do both and there is no better in the Premier League at the moment than Andy Carroll (8/1 to be top Premier League goalscorer).

While there may be questions about the Newcastle striker’s off-the-pitch antics, there is no doubting the new England man’s qualities when it comes to football. He has terrorised the best of defences in the Premier League so far this season and can offer more to Spurs than Crouch, Keane or Roman Pavlyuchenko.

A big-man, little-man combination of Carroll and Defoe – with Rafael van der Vaart in the hole behind and Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon like lightning on the wings and getting balls in the box – would make Spurs (11/8 for a top-four finish) a potent attacking force, giving Harry the best attack in the entire Premier League.

Leighton Baines

This may sound daft, but there is some good logic behind it. Benoit Assou-Ekotto is an able enough full-back, but if anything happens to him Harry will have to bring Bale back into defence. This would be hugely detrimental to Spurs’ attacking potential, so the best thing the gaffer could do would be to sign a quality left-back.

There are not many of these around at the moment and Baines at Everton certainly catches the eye, and he is also handy with a dead ball.

Harry has been linked with his Toffees colleague Phil Neville, but if he seriously wants a quality left-back then he should look no further than Baines. He could be the first choice at White Hart Lane, allowing Assou-Ekotto to provide cover.

Add these three top-notch English Premier League stars into the squad already assembled at Spurs (13/2 to win FA Cup) and they would have the quality and strength to win silverware this season.

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The 63-year-old is preparing to lead Spurs into battle against European champions Inter Milan on Wednesday in the Champions League at the San Siro – a fixture the north Londoners’ fans could only dream about given their failure to crack the top four domestically until last term (Inter 8/13, draw 14/5, Spurs 9/2).

Redknapp has selection problems for the Italian job with Rafael van der Vaart banned and Sandro ineligible, while the likes of Jermain Defoe, Michael Dawson (both knee) and Jamie O’Hara (back) are still sidelined.

In addition, Younes Kaboul (hamstring) remains a doubt for the Group A encounter with the Serie A giants as Tottenham look to build on their unbeaten start in Europe.

And while the Champions League looks to be a long shot for Spurs at their first attempt (33/1 Outright), Redknapp is in no mood to take the foot off the pedal at home as he looks for the funds to compete with Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal.

He said: “I think Tottenham may be one or two big signings away from being a team that could win the championship.

“One or two players in the right positions – and I’m talking about two top, top players in the right positions. If we could go and do that I think Tottenham are a team that could win the championship in a couple of years.”

Redknapp added: “This squad is just so full of talent anyway, players who have made their mark and (chairman) Daniel Levy has done a great job backing my judgment and improving the squad and the club, that I really believe we’re not far away from that level.”

“We’ve got a lot of players here who could play for any club.?

Group A’s other fixture tonight sees Dutch champions FC Twente (13/10 to win the game) entertain Werder Bremen (19/10) of Germany.

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White Hart Lane chief Harry Redknapp has transformed Spurs from relegation candidates to a top-four outfit since he was drafted in to replace Juande Ramos in October 2008.

At the time Ramos had managed to win just two points from the opening eight games of the 2008/09 Premier League season but Redknapp guided the north Londoners to an eighth-placed finish before a four-place improvement last time around.

Spurs will be in the Champions League for the first time next term and although they can boast England World Cup strikers Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe in their ranks, the futures of Republic of Ireland captain Robbie Keane and Russia star Roman Pavlyuchenko are far from secure.

Keane ended last season on loan at Celtic and is wanted back at Parkhead by new Bhoys chief Neil Lennon while Pavlyuchenko, despite hitting some good form towards the end of the 2009/10 season, looks set to move on in search of first-team football.

So Redknapp will need to do some wheeling and dealing in the transfer market which has led to links with former Manchester United forward Forlan who was part of Atletico’s Europa League-winning squad last season.

However, Los Rojiblancos only finished ninth in La Liga last season so cannot offer Forlan Champions League football and, at the age of 31, the South American predator is unlikely to want to spend any time away from Europe’s top table.

Forlan famously took 27 games to break his goalscoring duck for Manchester United after joining the Red Devils in January 2002, but he insists he has not been put off trying his luck in the Premier League at some point in the future.

The former Villarreal star said: “If there is an offer and it’s good for Atletico and good for me I would be really happy to go back to England. But it will have to be good.

“If a big chance to return to England came up, I would have to look at it. I loved my time in English football – the people, the fans, the football, everything.

“I wasn’t sad the way it ended at United to be honest. I was really happy during my time there and thank the people at United for how they treated me.

“During my period there I learnt a lot of things and had a good relationship with everyone. The reason I left was because I didn’t have the chance to play as regularly as I wanted.”

Forlan and Uruguay kick off their World Cup campaign against France on Friday (Forlan 33/1 – To Score A Hat-Trick).

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