From Inter Milan to PSV: the strengths and weaknesses of every team in Spurs’ Champions League group

Spurs kick off their Champions League campaign tonight against Inter in the group of death.

This is the second year running that Spurs will be in the toughest possible Champions League group, and while last year they made light of the challenge this year could prove even more difficult.

Every team in Spurs’ group is incredibly potent and could damage Mauricio Pochettino’s men. We’ve had a look at each side and made a list of their strengths and weaknesses and how they match up to each opponent.

PSV

PSV strengths

PSV are a thrilling young side who won the Eredivisie last season and are top of the league again so far this campaign. They play fast, energetic football with their primary avenues of creativity and awesomeness being wingers Hirving Lozano and Steven Bergwijn. They’re the weakest side in their group but their organisation gives them a genuine chance of causing a serious upset.

PSV Threat Level

vs Barcelona: pace on the counter
vs Inter Milan: Mark van Bommel’s personality
vs Spurs: title-winning experience

PSV may be a team made up of Hirving Lozano and a bunch of dudes you’ve only heard about from Football Manager and FUT, but they’ve won three of the last five Eredivisie titles. That’s more titles than Spurs have ever won in their whole entire history. PSV are a side of winners, and sometimes that mentality can bridge a quality gap and allow for some wild stuff to happen.

PSV weaknesses

Ultimately, though, PSV are just a team made up of Hirving Lozano and a bunch of dudes you’ve only heard about from Football Manager and FUT. It’s a sad and inescapable fact that is probably going to end up with them finishing bottom of this group. Tactical organisation is only going to take you so far against elite footballers, something this group has plenty of.

PSV Danger Level

vs Barcelona: lack of world-class talent
vs Inter Milan: unprepared for the step-up in competition
vs Spurs: a rookie coach

We all remember Mark van Bommel as a player. A snarling, gnashing brute of a midfielder who wrapped his delicate technique in plate armour of elbows, stamps and two-footed lunges. He was fearless. But how is he as a coach? PSV’s recent successes all came under the departed Philipp Cocu, and we have no idea how well MVB will take to first-team management.

Inter Milan

Inter strengths

Inter are back! The Nerazzurri and their beautiful kits will once again grace the Champions League. This is a side which, on paper, should be very competitive. A strong defence allied with a world-class striker and enigmatic leader should give them a decent shout.

Inter Threat Level

vs Barcelona: powerful defence
vs PSV: lethal strikers
vs Spurs: mesmeric wing-play

Like PSV, the majority of Inter’s creativity comes from the wings. Ivan Perisic is capable of stunning bursts of form, as he showed during the World Cup. No stage is too big for this two-footed terror and his love of scoring goals makes Inter very hard to contain in attack; after all, if the wingers are dancing around you and threatening goal, how can you double-team the star striker too?

Inter Weaknesses

Inter Milan being back is so great because they’ve been away for so long. Are they still as good as they were? It’s a whole new squad, obviously (no Zanetti!) and it wouldn’t be a surprise if they struggled to handle the added pressures of playing Champions League football.

Inter Threat Level

vs Barcelona: lack of Champions League experience
vs PSV: inconsistency of key players
vs Spurs: poor form

The most frustrating thing for Luciano Spaletti has to be that Inter enter this game in poor form. Their strong end to last season hasn’t carried over to the start of this one and they’ve won just one of their four games so far this campaign, losing two. Bringing that kind of form into Europe is far from ideal and Spurs could take huge advantage in the group opener.

Barcelona

Barcelona strengths

Barcelona are one of the best sides in the world. An elite team full of world-class players. They have phenomenal talent in virtually every position and are led by the best player in the world. Despite losing Andrés Iniesta in the summer, there’s no doubt that Barcelona are a side to be feared.

Barcelona Threat Level

vs PSV: world-class talent
vs Inter Milan: Leo Messi on a mission
vs Spurs: great tactical structure

What makes Barcelona so terrifying this season is Leo Messi’s stated ambition to win the Champions League again. It’s been one victory in the last seven seasons and for a player as good as Messi, that’s simply not enough. His comments will light a fire under the Blaugrana like never before.

Barcelona Weaknesses

Barcelona cannot be taken to be a flawless side. This is nowhere near Pep Guardiola’s 2008-2012 vintage. Some of the same parts are there, sure, but they aren’t the fearsome free-flowing force they used to be. Their failure last season in Rome, with Ernesto Valverde’s cowardice laid bare, cannot be forgotten so easily.

Barcelona Threat Level

vs PSV: struggle with counter-attacks
vs Inter Milan: over-reliance on Messi and Busquets
vs Spurs: Ernesto Valverde’s pragmatism

The main issue with Barcelona is that despite their dizzying array of talent, their system of play is absurdly reliable on two men: Leo Messi and Sergio Busquets. How the Blaugrana manage both men’s fitness so that they are always ready to rock and roll is one thing, but how they avoid them both becoming lightning rods for opponents defensive focus is a major problem.

Spurs

Spurs strengths

Spurs are a superbly organised side packed to the brim with great attacking talent. Through sheer quality and great tactics, they have managed to be competitive at the top end of the Premier League despite playing wages that would have been the standard a decade ago.

Spurs Threat Level

vs Barcelona: exceptional at the high press
vs Inter Milan: fearless in big games
vs PSV: tactically bold manager

Spurs’ main chance of beating Barcelona is also luckily one of their great strengths; their phenomenal high-pressing defensive strategy is capable of unnerving the Blaugrana and allowing Spurs to unsettle their illustrious opponents.

Spurs Weaknesses

Spurs are not a perfect side, however. Defensive midfield has emerged into something of a problem position for them and has contributed directly to their struggles to handle counter-attacks. These weaknesses may seem minor but they could be the trigger for any of these dangerous opponents.

Spurs Threat Level

vs Barcelona: porous at defensive midfield
vs Inter Milan: poor form
vs PSV: struggle to manage counter-attacks

Spurs come into their first game against Inter in poor form. Their last three games have seen them put in questionable displays, and whilst they turned one of those into a win against Manchester United they since lost consecutive league games for the first time in over two years. Not ideal preparation!

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