Match In Focus: Spurs 3-1 Cska

A strong crowd of more than 62,000 turned out for the final Champions League Group E fixture against Russian club CSKA Moscow at Wembley.

Tottenham rounded off a frustrating Champions League campaign with a 3-1 victory over CSKA Moscow that secured the dubious consolation of a place in the Europa League.

It was an excitable remark from a supporter huddled deep in the terraces – not one aimed at Spurs finally ending their Wembley hoodoo, nor an optimistic take on their upcoming Europa League adventure. The Spurs were attacking fluidly and the atmosphere was buzzing, if not electric. This performance was another indicator that Spurs are prepped for a winter run.

Although it was a less than a capacity crowd that greeted the sides, the Spurs faithful did their best to lifted their charges, perhaps particularly mindful that Wembley hasn’t been “where the heart is” of late, having lost on each of their last six visits to the home of football.

On the stroke of half-time, Spurs were in the lead for the first time as Harry Kane found the back of the net after a square ball from Danny Rose.

Alli would locate his shooting boots and the equaliser came when he took a fine touch from Eriksen’s cross and guided a shot inside the far corner – although Walker appeared to have been offside in the build-up. It was his first goal in nine appearances.

Tottenham: Lloris 6; Walker 7, Dier 6, Vertonghen 7, Rose 8; Winks 6, Wanyama 6; Eriksen 9, Dele 7, Son 6; Kane 7.

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They have been boosted by the return of Kane in recent weeks while Toby Alderweireld came on as a substitute at Wembley and could make his first start in nearly eight weeks at Old Trafford.

Eriksen was running the show all evening.

Five minutes later, Dele Alli levelled for Spurs. “Their goal was definitely against the run of play but we had the chance to come again and we knew that if we put them away and stuck to the game plan we would win the game”. It was three more than any other player on the pitch, and his highest total of any game this season. It was practically the first time that the visitors had crossed halfway. Somehow, the 20-year-old wasn’t booked. Tottenham will play in the Europa League for the sixth consecutive season after dropping into the tournament via a third-place finish.

Mourinho, whose side were at Ukraine’s Zorya Luhansk in the Europa League last night, left Antonio Valencia, Matteo Darmian and Michael Carrick out of his squad to keep them fresh for Sunday.

Despite the potential for problems arising from the Europa League’s gruelling itinerary and far-flung destinations, Pochettino is adamant Tottenham will treat the competition seriously because the winners qualify for the Champions League. They are 6 points ahead of United in the league table at the fifth position.