Tottenham Hotspur will attempt to move onto
six points in Group K when the Premier League
outfit make the trip to Russia to face Anzhi
Makhachkala on Thursday.
The clash in Ramenskoye will be the first time
that the two sides have met in a European
competition, but Anzhi did face English opposition
last season – exchanging 1-0 home wins with
Liverpool in the group stages, before being
eliminated by Newcastle United in the last 16.
Overall, their record against English opponents is
won one, drawn one and lost two of their four
matches. They will attempt to end a barren spell
in front of goal this week, with the Russian outfit
failing to score in their last three European
matches.
Anzhi opened their Group K campaign with a 0-0
draw with Sheriff on matchday one, but Spurs
took early charge of the group with a
comprehensive 3-0 victory over Tromso. The
Premier League outfit have won all three of their
matches in this season's competition, scoring 11
times and conceding none in the process.
The hosts have also struggled in their domestic
division this season, with no wins from 11
matches leaving them second from bottom in the
Russian top flight. That is in contrast to Spurs,
who currently sit third in the Premier League after
winning four of their first six matches of the new
season.
The Russian outfit can no longer call upon the
services Samuel Eto'o, who scored nine times in
16 European games for the club in the 2012-13
campaign, with the striker now plying his trade
with Chelsea.
Anzhi will also be without their highly-rated
forward Lacina Traore through injury. However,
Pavel Solomatin and Nikita Burmistrov are
both expected to start in attack.
Spurs, meanwhile, could ring the changes from
their draw with Chelsea in the league at the
weekend with Brad Friedel and Harry Kane
both pushing for starts. Jermain Defoe is also
expected to line up in attack at the expense of
Roberto Soldado.