Tottenham will have to perform a balancing act with their squad as things get tighter in both the Europa League and the Premier League, but they should at least win the first leg against Basel.
Tottenham's campaign is heating up on both fronts as they enter the quarter-finals of the Europa League whilst trying to hold onto their lead over Arsenal to ensure they won't be in the same competition next year.
Spurs' first leg against Basel should be a very winnable game, with the Swiss outfit not having won any of their away games in the competition so far this season, but it remains to be seen if Andre Villas-Boas will rest players ahead of the game. Emmanuel Adebayor is certainly likely to start as Spurs' only real option up front, however, since Jermain Defoe is injured.
The draw certainly could have been tougher, with Chelsea and Newcastle both drawing more difficult opponents, but Tottenham will still have to be wary. Basel did, after all, knock Manchester United out of the Champions League group stage last year, so they have shown they can be a danger if underestimated.
Jermain Defoe is absent for around 10 days for Tottenham with a muscle problem, which represents their only new injury problem, the only other unavailable players being long-term absentees Younes Kaboul and Sandro. Hugo Lloris has recovered from the knee problem that kept him out of Spurs' last game at Swansea, but Brad Friedel is expected to start as he has done throughout the competition.
Basel meanwhile have no injury problems but instead have to cope with three suspensions which will leave both of his first-choice fullbacks unavailable.
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