14.02. (Thu) 21:05 Tottenham Hot. - Olympique Lyonnais

PROBABLE LINEUPS

TOTTENHAM
Lloris
Walker, Dawson, Vertonghen, Assou-Ekotto
Lennon, Dembele, Parker, Bale
Dempsey
Adebayor
LYON
Vercoutre
Reveillere, Dabo, Bisevac, Umtiti
Ghezzal, Gourcuff, Gonalons, Malbranque Lopez, Gomis

Andre Villas-Boas is set to make some changes from the side that defeated Newcastle United 2-1 on Saturday with Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Jan Vertonghen poised to come into the starting line-up to freshen up the backline.

Further forward, Emmanuel Adebayor is likely to start his first match for the club since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations.

Younes Kaboul (knee) and Jermain Defoe (ankle) both remain a couple of weeks away from returning while Sando (knee) will miss the rest of the season.

For the hosts, Remi Garde could also change the team which lost 3-1 at home to Lille. Yoann Gourcuff has struggled to make the starting XI for the club on a consistent basis but could be given a chance to add to his three appearances in the Europa League.

Up front Bafetimbi Gomis may also potentially come in to give increased attacking options alongside fellow strike partner Lisandro Lopez.

DID YOU KNOW?
Tottenham finished second in Group J behind Serie A outfit Lazio. The north London club took 10 points from their six games.

Hugo Lloris made 195 appearances for Lyon during his four-year spell at the club before he departed to move to Tottenham in August.

The north London club have won the Uefa Cup twice - during its inaugural season in 1972 and in 1984. Spurs are 16/1 to win the tournament with Coral.

Lyon won Group I in impressive fashion - taking 16 points out of a possible 18 - nine more than second-placed Sparta Prague.

Ex-Spurs midfielder Steed Malbranque has scored twice in 16 appearances since he joined Lyon last summer.

Bafetimbi Gomis has netted twice in three Europa League games so far this season, and has been linked with a move to a host of Premier League sides.

Prediction
The hosts go into the tie in solid form while their opponents suffered a loss last weekend. With Bale in sparkling form and with hoe advantage, Spurs are favourites to win and should just edge it and take a narrow lead into the second leg.
Editor's Prediction
Tottenham 2-1 Lyon

14.02. (Thu) 19:00 Sparta Praha - Chelsea

PROBABLE LINEUPS

SPARTA PRAGUE
Vaclik
Svejdik, Zapotocny, Vidlicka, Pamic
Holek, Husbauer, Matejovsky, Jarosik
Balaj, Kadlec
CHELSEA
Cech
Azpilicueta, Cahill, Luiz, Bertrand
Ramires, Mikel, Marin
Oscar, Torres, Moses


The home side should choose a fairly strong team for this game, with exciting youngster Vaclav Kadlec a key threat in attack.

He would be supported up front by Albanian Bekim Balaj, who has scored five goals in 10 appearances since moving from KF Tirana.

In defence, the experienced Tomas Zapotocny will be crucial in the centre, hoping to use his considerable experience of European football to good effect for the home side.

For Chelsea, Demba Ba is cup-tied having played in this competition already for Newcastle, so it will fall to Fernando Torres to lead the line.

Blues manager Rafael Benitez may choose this competition to experiment with his side, allowing some of his fringe players time on the pitch.

John Terry remains out with a knee injury, while midfielder Oriel Romeu (knee) is another who is a long-term absentee.

DID YOU KNOW?
Sparta Prague first began their Europa League campaign at the beginning of August, beating Admira of Austria 4-2 on aggregate in the third qualifying round.

Czech midfielder Jiri Jarosik spent two seasons with Chelsea, making enough league appearances in the 2004-05 season to earn a Premier League winner’s medal but being loaned to Birmingham City after the arrival of Michael Essien.

Sparta Prague have tasted success in European club competition before, winning the Mitropa Cup for central European teams three times before the tournament was discontinued in 1992.

These teams last met in the Champions League group stage in the 2003-04 season, with the sides drawing 0-0 at Stamford Bridge after the Blues won 1-0 away in Prague thanks to a goal from William Gallas .

Chelsea have not played in this competition since the 2002-03 season, when they lost 5-4 on aggregate in the first round to Norwegian side Viking FK.

If the Blues were to win this competition, they would have then won each European club competition in their history.

Chelsea manager Rafael Benitez has won this competition once as a manager in the 2003-04 season when he was in charge of Valencia.

The Blues are 5/1 to beat Sparta Prague 1-0 with Coral.

Prediction
This competition may not be a priority for Chelsea, but they will be hoping to have a good performance away from home.

Sparta sit third in the Czech top division, but even with home advantage the Blues should have enough to overcome their threat in this first leg.
Editor's Prediction
Sparta Prague 1-2 Chelsea

14.02. (Thu) 18:00 Zenit - Liverpool

PROBABLE LINEUPS

ZENIT ST PETERSBURG
Malafeev
Anyukov, Lombaerts, Hubocan, Yanbayev
Witsel, Danny, Denisov
Hulk, Zyryanov, Alves
LIVERPOOL
Reina
Wisdom, Carragher, Skrtel, Enrique
Shelvey, Allen, Henderson
Borini, Suarez, Sterling

Brendan Rodgers travels to Russia with new signing Daniel Sturridge unavailable for the second consecutive fixture, this time due to being cup-tied.

Raheem Sterling (illness) should be fully recovered in time for the game, although full back Martin Kelly (knee) remains a long-term absentee.

Zenit boss Luciano Spalletti is likely to have a fully fit first-team squad to choose from, following the Russian winter break.

DID YOU KNOW?
Zenit St Petersburg have never lost to an English side on home soil.

Between them, these two clubs reached three European finals in four seasons between 2005 and 2008.
Zenit are 8/1 to beat Liverpool 1-0 with Coral.

Liverpool centre back Martin Skrtel helped Zenit to the 2007 Russian league title before leaving for Merseyside the following year.

Liverpool's only away defeat in the Europa League this term came in Russia, against Anzhi Makhachkala.

Thursday's clash will be the first time the two clubs have met in their history.

Liverpool have won as many matches as they have lost (two) away on Russian turf.

Prediction
Having seen their hopes of Champions League qualification all but dashed with Monday's home defeat to West Brom, Liverpool could - and perhaps should - be looking at this fixture as representing the potential beginning of a season-saving trophy challenge. Should players and staff alike head into the tie with such an attitude then the Reds surely boast the requisite class and experience in their ranks to match and dispatch their Russian opponents.

Brendan Rodgers side will likely be doing their utmost to keep things tight during the opening away leg, and they may not win, but they will be confident that a draw will be sufficient to take back to Anfield and complete the job the following week.

Editor's Prediction
Zenit 1-1 Liverpool