Swansea put unbeaten records on the
line in the third batch of Europa
League group action on Thursday.
Spurs can even qualify for the
knockout stages with three games to
spare should they see off FC Sheriff in
Moldova and the other Group K tie
ends in stalemate.
Wins in Russia last time out against
Anzhi Makhachkala and Norwegians
Tromso have left Andre Villas-Boas's
high-flyers coasting in a competition
in which they reached the
quarterfinals last season.
Villas-Boas, who lifted the 2011
Europa League trophy with FC Porto,
told uefa.com: "This trophy means a
lot to Tottenham - last year we
embraced the competition in a
serious way, and we aim to do so
again this season.
"Our objective is to progress."
Speaking after the Anzhi victory the
Portuguese commented: "A win is
what we wanted and gives us the
opportunity in the next games
against Sheriff to ensure
qualification."
Spurs striker Jermain Defoe is on the
brink of rewriting club history as one
more goal will swell his European
catch to 24 and draw the England
striker level with club record-holder
Martin Chivers.
Swansea made it two out of two to
lead Group A with a hard-fought 1-0
triumph over Saint Gallen in south
Wales at the start of the month.
On Thursday they are back at the
Liberty Stadium playing host to
Russian visitors Kuban Krasnodar,
facing a Premier League side for the
first time.
Like Tottenham, Swansea, competing
in Europe for the first time since the
1991/92 season, are not only
unbeaten but they have yet to
concede a goal.
Both Spurs and Swansea, who were
applauded by the Valencia fans after
stunning the Spaniards 3-0 in their
opener, are in good heart after stylish
wins on the home front at the
weekend.
Britain's third contender, FA Cup
winners Wigan, are out to build on
their first ever home European win -
a 3-1 triumph over Maribor of
Slovenia - when they host Rubin
Kazan.
The Russians represent tough
opposition, firing in nine goals to top
Group D, with Wigan two points
behind in the all-important second
spot which gains qualification to the
next round.
Sevilla, winners of the predecessor to
the Europa League the 2006 and
2007 Uefa Cups, are undefeated and
lead Group H, a position of
superiority they are out to confirm
when they travel to Slovan Liberec of
the Czech Republic.
Group E leaders Fiorentina, buoyed
by a 4-2 defeat of arch-rivals
Juventus in Serie A on Sunday, are in
Romania to tackle Pandurii Targu-Jiu.
With Germany striker Mario Gomez
sidelined American-born Giuseppe
Rossi, back after three operations in
two years, has answered his club's
call, scoring a hat-trick against Juve.
His experience with Villarreal when
he scored 11 goals on the way to
helping his former Spanish club
reach the semifinals in 2010/2011
will prove invaluable with the
Italians taking seriously their Europa
league engagement.
"This team is built to win," said Rossi
after the Juve win.
"We have big hearts and great
motivation. We have great players on
the field and on the bench. Fiorentina
can take on anybody."
Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN
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