Tottenham XI v Aston Villa: Ange Postecoglou to axe Rodrigo Bentancur amid two changes
Tottenham could take a big step toward qualifying for the UEFA Champions League when they take on Aston Villa on Sunday 10 March.
Ange Postecoglou will take his players to Villa Park for what could be a season-defining match.
Spurs are currently fifth, five points behind Unai Emery’s side in fourth having played a game less. Victory would move them to within two points of their top-four rivals still with a game in hand.
However, defeat could spell the end of their hopes of finishing in the Premier League’s top four.
After their 3-1 win against Crystal Palace at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (2 March), Spurs will arrive in the West Midlands full of confidence.
Postecoglou must ensure he gets his team selection spot on as he prepares for arguably the biggest match of his time in charge at Tottenham to date.
Ange Postecoglou to make two changes for clash with Aston Villa
Guglielmo Vicario was perhaps at fault as he conceded the one shot on target he faced against Palace last time out but will expect to continue between the sticks for Tottenham at Villa Park.
Destiny Udogie should keep his place at left-back despite a difficult afternoon against Spurs’ South London rivals as he won just two of his seven ground duels and failed to provide an accurate cross into the box from his two attempts (Sofascore). Meanwhile, with Pedro Porro’s fitness status still up in the air, Emerson Royal will likely continue at right-back.
Micky van de Ven was sensational against Palace as he won eight of his nine ground duels, completed 94 per cent of his passes and 100 per cent of his dribbles and a centre-back pairing of the Dutchman and Cristian Romero, who got on the scoresheet against Oliver Glasner’s side, will likely be named by Postecoglou.
In midfield is where the Australian could make the first of his two changes.
Yves Bissouma will expect to keep his place after a relatively comfortable afternoon against the Eagles as he completed 95 per cent of his passes, made two tackles and won four of his seven ground duels. However, his partner in the middle of the park that day could be dropped.
Rodrigo Bentancur struggled to make an impact last time out, as he completed zero per cent of his dribble attempts and won just two of his seven ground duels. He is likely to be replaced by Pape Matar Sarr who replaced James Maddison in the dying moments against Palace and completed 93 per cent of his passes while on the pitch.
Timo Werner could be handed a chance to build on his moment after scoring his first Spurs goal in their most recent victory, while Brennan Johnson will feel he deserves a start ahead of Dejan Kulusevski.
Johnson provided two assists off the bench against Palace while Kulusevski was rather ineffective, completing just 77 per cent of his passes and only providing one accurate cross into the box from his four attempts.
Maddison will likely continue behind Son Heung-min with the former grabbing an assist and playing two key passes against Palace while the latter returned to goalscoring ways against Glasner’s side.
In other Tottenham news, John Wenham of Lilywhite Rose believes an acceptable bid will arrive for one on-loan Spurs defender this summer.
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