Tottenham will head into Thursday’s Europa Conference League clash with NS Mura expecting to win, but with the pressure mounting on Nuno Espirito Santo and his squad.
It may only be a matter of weeks since Spurs were riding high at the top of the Premier League standings, but three straight top-flight defeats where they have conceded nine goals and scored just once has firmly brought Nuno’s honeymoon period at the club to an end.
A 2-2 draw away at Rennes in their Europa Conference League Group G opener came in the midst of that poor run, and nothing short of a victory against Slovenian champions NS Mura will do in their next match in that competition at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Thursday.
Could Tottenham’s Season Reach New Low?
Despite their poor form, Tottenham are still the overwhelming favourites to claim all three points on Thursday, as they will be taking on a Mura side that are competing in just their third ever European campaign, and they were beaten 2-0 on home soil by Vitesse in their group opener.
However, given Spurs’ recent struggles, they cannot afford to underestimate a Mura side that are unbeaten in their last five domestic matches and pipped Maribor to the Slovenian PrvaLiga title last season.
Ante Simundza’s side are used to defying the odds, as they were only promoted to the top-flight of Slovenian football three years ago, while they were playing in the fourth tier as recently as 2014.
There may well be a gulf in quality and resources between these two sides, but Mura could cause a shock and can be backed at 9/1 to avoid defeat in North London.
Vitesse to Edge Past Rennes
Eredivisie outfit Vitesse have not started the new domestic season on the front foot, but they have impressed in the Europa Conference League, as they are unbeaten in their five matches in the competition to date, including impressively overcoming Anderlecht in the final round of qualifying.
Rennes held Tottenham to a draw in their opening group fixture, but the French club, who were involved in last season’s Champions League, have struggled for form of late, winning just one of their last six matches.
Bruno Genesio’s side have also picked up just one point and scored one goal from their last three away fixtures in Ligue 1, with another defeat on the road appearing to be on the cards on Thursday.
Nog iets minder dan 12 uur tot de eerste groepswedstrijd van de @europacnfleague in @GelreDome!
𝗕𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲!#Vitesse #VITsrfc #UECL
— Vitesse (@MijnVitesse) September 30, 2021
Vitesse have won three of their last five fixtures across all competitions and are priced at 49/20 to make it back-to-back wins in the Europa Conference League, which would also consolidate their place at the top of the Group G standings.
Slavia the Value Option in Rotterdam
Over recent years, Slavia Prague has proven their European pedigree, most notably reaching the quarter-finals of last season’s Europa League.
Another extended run on the continent could be on the cards for Jindrich Trpisovsky’s side this term, as they brushed aside Union Berlin in their Europa Conference League Group E opener earlier this month.
That 3-1 success forms part of a five-match winning run for Slavia across all competitions, and they look good value to take at least a point from their trip to Rotterdam to take on Feyenoord, as they are priced at 21/20 to avoid defeat.
Feyenoord have also been in improved form since drawing their group opener at Maccabi Haifa, with the Eredivisie outfit having won all three of their subsequent matches, scoring 12 goals in the process.
This will certainly be a meeting of two in-form sides, but Slavia may have the edge, as they have lost just one of their last four away fixtures in European competition, avoiding defeat at Arsenal, Rangers and Leicester over recent months.
*All odds correct at time of writing.