Tottenham Hotspur vs Internazionale Preview

Topics: Tottenham Hotspur, Inter Milan, Europa League

The Nerazzuri will be hoping to pick up a positive result when they travel to London to do battle with Tottenham in the Europa League.

Inter Milan have been rather inconsistent this season, but while they are out of the race for the Italian Scudetto, they have a good opportunity to win something in Europe.

The Italian giants take on Tottenham Hotspur in what promises to be a hotly-disputed Europa League clash at White Hart Lane on Thursday.

Inter, who beat Catania 3-2 in a thriller on the weekend, have picked up their game in recent weeks, but due to past failures are more than aware that if they don't play to their top form against Tottenham they are likely to be overwhelmed.

Highflying Tottenham are unbeaten in their last twelve Premier League matches, which is their best run in Premier League history.

Inter will also have painful memories of their 3-1 away defeat to Tottenham in the 2010-11 Champions League group stage.

Inter boss Andrea Stramaccioni also has a number of selection concerns to deal with, as while star striker Diego Milito continues to be sidelined with a serious knee injury, fellow Argentine Walter Samuel and Andrea Ranocchia will also miss the game through injury.

According to reports, Antonio Cassano, who was dropped for Inter's triumph over Catania following a spat with Stramaccioni, could find himself back in first-team contention. If he is provided with the opportunity his most likely strike-partner will be Rodrigo Palacio, who scored a double in Sicily.

Rivals Tottenham have been passing through a very good moment at present, and will rate their chances of claiming maximum points against the Italians.

Andre Villas-Boas, the coach of the side, also has a few significant absentees, with these including American striker Clint Dempsey, who has a calf problem, Mousa Dembele, who is struggling with his knee and former Real Madrid attacker Emmanuel Adebayor, who sustained an ankle injury during Saturday's north London derby against Arsenal.

Spurs will be relying on the goal-scoring prowess of Welsh attacker Gareth Bale to get past Inter. Bale has scored seven goals in his last five Premier League appearances and will be desperate to find the back of the net on Thursday.