Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Europa League match.
Tottenham Hotspur will be fully motivated to secure direct qualification for the Europa League Round of 16, avoiding two extra knockout play-off matches. They also need to redeem themselves after yet another humiliation in the Premier League. Meanwhile, a draw would virtually guarantee Elfsborg a place in the knockout play-offs.
Tottenham Hotspur
While Tottenham have performed reasonably well in Europe, their Premier League campaign has been a disaster. They are not in immediate danger of elimination from the Europa League, but their domestic form is alarming, as they edge closer to the relegation zone. Last Sunday, they handed a struggling Leicester side a much-needed boost, suffering their fourth consecutive defeat and extending their winless streak to seven matches. In the Europa League, however, Tottenham have lost only once in seven matches—a narrow 2:3 defeat in Istanbul against Galatasaray. That said, except for a 3:0 victory over Qarabağ, all their wins have been by a single-goal margin.
Elfsborg
Elfsborg are closer in level to Qarabağ than to Europe’s mid-tier clubs, yet they have held their own against respectable opponents. Their three wins in seven matches were not flukes—all came at home by 1:0 scorelines. The Swedish club’s opponents ranged from Qarabağ to Roma, with Nice falling victim last week, despite Elfsborg not playing domestic football since mid-November.
Tottenham Hotspur vs Elfsborg Prediction
Elfsborg have also been a tough opponent on the road. AZ Alkmaar and Galatasaray barely escaped with narrow 3:2 and 4:3 wins, respectively. Given Tottenham’s defensive issues, a dominant victory seems unlikely.
