Tottenham to dominate Dnipro in White Hart Lane return leg

For all the talk of it being a hindrance to their Champions League qualification hopes, the Europa League remains Tottenham’s most realistic shot at glory this term and despite a 1-0 loss in the Ukraine, they should still be backed to win the return game against Dnipro and progress.

Spurs head into the second leg as firm 8/15 favourites for the win with Ladbrokes, while they are available at a similarly favourable 17/20 to qualify, and given their impressive record at home in the competition they should be backed to deliver the goods.

The Lilywhites have turned White Hart Lane into something of a fortress in this competition over the years and head into this encounter having gone 10 games unbeaten at home in the Europa League, winning eight and drawing two of those matches.

Dnipro are an outside bet at 11/2 to win while the draw is available at 3/1 though given the fortuitous nature of their victory at the Dnipro Arena, with the game settled by a late penalty from Liverpool transfer target Yevhen Konoplyanka, that looks unlikely.

The midfielder remains the one to watch for the visitors, with Ladbrokes offering odds of 10/3 on the 24-year-old finding the net at anytime, but in truth it’s the hosts who look the most likely to continue their fine scoring form at home.

Tottenham have found the net three or more times in six of their last eight home wins in the Europa League and can be backed at 9/5 to score over 2.5 goals against Dnipro.

But with the visitors finding the net in five of these eight victories, don’t count against the Ukrainians coming up with a goal of their own, which would make the 13/20 on the away side scoring over 0.5 goals something of a banker.

Spurs’ success could ultimately hinge on the mindset of big summer signing Roberto Soldado, a striker who has so far failed to set the world alight in London but could come good here, having notched up a hat-trick for the Lilywhites during a 4-1 victory over Anzhi in the group phase.

The former Valencia hit man is 10/11 to score at anytime and 7/2 to grab the opener – as he did against the Russians last time out at home in the competition.

With Defoe absent through injury and Adebayor likely to be rested, this could be Soldado’s last chance to shine and with 5/1 offered on the Spaniard scoring two or more, it might be time to back him.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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