Spurs can hold Inter Milan to San Siro draw

Champions League
BT Sport 3, 5.55pm Tuesday

Tottenham have not lost three consecutive matches since appointing Mauricio Pochettino in 2014 and they can put an end to their recent troubles by holding Inter to a draw at the San Siro.

Defeats to Watford and Liverpool have put Tottenham on the back foot and they don't have scope to make many mistakes in their tough Champions League group.

Barcelona are the visitors to Wembley on matchday two and Spurs will want at least a point on the board before going head-to-head with the Catalans.

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The Londoners are in need of a confidence boost, but the same applies to Inter, who have taken just four points from four Serie A matches.

Inter have had some lean times in recent years and their fourth place last season – ensuring a return to the Champions League for the first time in six years – was their joint-highest since 2011.

They lost 1-0 at home to Parma on Saturday and will need to be much better if they are to take their Champions League challenge past the group stage.

Inter's lack of fluency had been influenced by injuries to key players.

Midfielder Radja Nainggolan (thigh) has started just two of the opening four games and Mauro Icardi (thigh) returned to action as a half-time substitute in the loss to Parma.

However, both came through the weekend unscathed and are likely to face Spurs.

The threat from Icardi, Serie A's joint-top scorer last season with 29 goals, is obvious and Spurs will be wary of Croatian forward Ivan Perisic, who has built on a strong World Cup with two goals in four matches.

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Inter have good enough attacking players but they make lack a little bit of belief after recent setbacks and will be respectful of Pochettino's side, who dropped just two points in last season's Champions League group stage.

Tottenham's challenge is to get back to the standards they reached when they beat Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund (twice).

However, Dele Alli - the two-goal hero of the 3-1 Wembley success over Real - is injured and neither Christian Eriksen nor Harry Kane are playing anywhere close to their best.

With Spurs' established match-winners either injured or out of sorts, the onus is on Lucas Moura to continue his bright start to the season.
Moura was one of the few bright sparks in the loss to Liverpool, which could have been embarrassing.

However, Spurs will not be up against such a dangerous attack at the San Siro and a more solid, structured performance from them can deliver a satisfactory point.

Recommendation
Draw
1pt 23-10 188Bet, Betfair, Sky Bet

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Team news
Inter
Lautaro Martinez (calf) has missed the last two weeks and Sime Vrsaljko (knee) is a doubt.

Tottenham
Hugo Lloris (thigh), Dele Alli and Moussa Sissoko (both hamstring) are ruled out for the visitors.

Bet on this game at Soccerbase.com

Key stat
Tottenham have not won any of their last five competitive away games against Italian opposition.

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