Following their 3-0 defeat at White Hart Lane last week, Inter Milan will need a miracle to overturn the deficit when the sides meet for the return leg at the San Siro on Thursday.

Inter Milan will need a miracle against Tottenham Hotspur at the San Siro on Thursday in order to advance to the quarter-finals of the 2012-13 Europa League.

The Italian giants were completely overwhelmed 3-0 by Tottenham in London in the first leg, and will need to claim a big win on home soil in order to overcome the Premier League club.

Inter, who were also beaten by Bologna in the Serie A on the weekend, have not lived up to expectation under the guidance of inexperienced coach Andrea Stramaccioni this season, and from their most recent showings, at least, are unlikely to overturn the deficit against Spurs.

Stramaccioni, who could well be out of a job at the end of the season, understands that his team must be at their very best in order to stand a chance, and will be delighted by the return of goalkeeper Samir Handanovic, who missed Sunday's Serie A defeat to Bologna through suspension.

Inter will definitely have to approach the game with an attacking mentality in order to improve their chances of getting through, and Stramaccioni has gone for the Rodrigo Palacio-Antonio Cassano strike-partnership.

Diego Milito, for many Inter's most dangerous striker, continues to be sidelined with a serious knee injury.

Rivals Tottenham practically have one foot in the next phrase of the Europa League, but from past experience surely won't underestimate traditionally superior rivals like Inter.

The visitors will be without star player Gareth Bale, who is serving a one-match ban. When the sides met in the 2010-11 UEFA Champions League he scored a superb hat-trick at the San Siro but this couldn't avoid his team suffering a 4-3 defeat.

Having recovered from an ankle injury just in time for the game, Emmanuel Adebayor could possibly start up front alongside Jermain Defoe, as Andre Villas-Boas' side look for a valuable away goal that would surely settle the tie.

Inter's last four matches

Mar 10, 2013: Inter 0-1 Bologna (Serie A)

Mar 7, 2013: Tottenham 3-0 Inter (Europa League)

Mar 3, 2013: Catania 2-3 Inter (Serie A)

Feb 24, 2013: Inter 1-1 AC Milan (Serie A)

Tottenham's last four matches

Mar 10, 2013: Liverpool 3-2 Tottenham (English Premier League)

Mar 7, 2013: Tottenham 3-0 Inter (Europa League)

Mar 3, 2013: Tottenham 2-1 Arsenal (English Premier League)

Feb 25, 2013: West Ham 2-3 Tottenham (English Premier League)

Facts

- The last time the two sides met in Italy, Inter ran out 4-3 winners, thanks to goals from Javier Zanetti, Dejan Stankovic and two strikes from former player Samuel Eto'o.

- Tottenham are unbeaten in their previous 10 Europa League clashes, dating back to Novermber of 2011.

Prediction

Inter 2-1 Tottenham