Tottenham x Nice:
Tottenham Hotspur are back at White Hart Lane for the first time in six weeks as they host Ligue 1 side OGC Nice in a friendly. The match is their final warm-up before Boxing Day’s Premier League opener at Brentford.
A first half goal from Matt Doherty set Spurs on their way, before Antoine Mendy levelled things up just 90 seconds into the second period.
Tottenham
Tottenham Hotspur took on Ligue 1 opposition Nice in their final warm up game before the resumption of the Premier League. Matt Doherty fired Spurs in front early on, but Nice levelled shortly after the break.
The Lilywhites dominated possession in the first half and had several chances to take the lead. Bryan Gil blazed a volley over from a corner before Ross Barkley had a shot saved by Forster.
Dejan Kulusevski then tried his luck with a free kick but it swerved wide of the target. Emerson Royal then charged forward and forced a save from Kasper Schmeichel before Harvey White smacked the rebound wide.
In the second half, Conte made a double change with Son Heung-min and Eric Dier on the bench. He also brought on Romaine Mundle for Emerson Royal.
Nice
Tottenham Hotspur are back in action this Wednesday when they host French side OGC Nice in a friendly match at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Tottenham are currently on a good run of form, having won their last two matches against Motherwell and Leeds.
However, they will need to keep this up if they want to maintain their lead over Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table. A win against Nice would put them on the right track and boost their chances of qualifying for some European competition next season.
Tottenham’s performance against Brighton & Hove Albion was certainly an eye-opener. Manager Mauricio Pochettino opted for a bizarre 4-2-3-1 that was way off the mark and created a lot of confusion in the middle.
Form
After a dismal start to the season, Tottenham are back on track. They’ve won two of their last three matches, beating Fulham and Leicester City in the process, and will be hoping to continue that form when they host Ligue 1 side Nice at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Wednesday evening.
However, there are a few questions hanging over this game. Manager Antonio Conte remains sidelined after a setback in his recovery from gallbladder surgery, and Rodrigo Bentancur is also missing due to an injury.
This could be a tough game for the Lilywhites, who have only won one of their four league games away from home so far this season. Man City should be able to take advantage of that. They’re also coming off a 1-0 victory over Arsenal in the FA Cup.
Injury list
Tottenham are back in action today, with a friendly against Ligue 1 side OGC Nice at White Hart Lane. It’s their final warm-up before they play on Boxing Day at Brentford, and it will be streamed live on SpursPLAY.
Dejan Kulusevski is likely to return from a muscle injury that has kept him out for the past two games, while Rodrigo Bentancur could also be a chance to make his first appearance of the season. The Uruguayan suffered a serious knee injury in their 4-1 defeat to Leicester City last month, but Conte says he is confident he can return for the North London derby with Arsenal next weekend.
Richarlison missed the international break with a hamstring issue, while Son Heung-Min will continue to wear a mask for his left eye after surgery last month to stabilise his fracture there. Both men are expected to be fit and available for this match but Conte has plenty of players in his squad to choose from, so it’s likely he’ll have some rotation.
Prediction
A win over OGC Nice could give Tottenham Hotspur the confidence boost they need to challenge for top spot. It could also set the tone for the club’s upcoming season and give them momentum in their quest to secure a place in next year’s Champions League.
Tottenham’s form has been great, and they look like they’re going to be hard to beat this season. However, they may miss some key players who are still in a World Cup break.
Whether the likes of Harry Kane, Son and Richarlison will be able to play a part on Wednesday remains to be seen, but a weakened Tottenham attack may struggle to break down a full-strength Nice side. Both Antonio Conte and Lucien Favre won’t read too much into this friendly as they prepare their contingent for the return of competitive action, so we can see the spoils being shared in this showdown.
