The road to Hampden gets even more closer for the only British club left in this years competition, when Tottenham Hotspur play Sevilla in what is undoubtedly the tie of the road in this years quarter finals.

 

Sevilla are looking to become only the second side to defend their trophy which they won so convincingly against another English Premiership side, Middlesbourgh, who the defeated 4-0 in last years final, Real Madrid are the only other side to do so. This will be the first meeting of the two sides in a European Competition but with the attacking styles of play on both sides it should make for a very exciting match.

 

Tottenham have won the trophy twice, indeed they were the first ever winners of the competition when the defeated fellow English side Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-2 in the two legged final during the 1971/72 season. Martin Chivers was the Spurs hero with two goals in a 2-1 away victory after the first leg had been drawn 1-1. The London club also won the trophy in 1984 when they defeated Anderlecht on penalties after a 2-2 draw.

 

The Spurs support have long craved success in Europe after having to sit and endure years of watching Arsenal and Chelsea play in the Champions League almost every season as well as picking up the odd Cup Winners Cup along the way before that competition ended back in 1999. The UEFA Cup is season as the second most important trophy in European Football as now only two European Trophies remain. The UEFA Cup itself, replaced the Inter Cities Fairs Cup and there was also the Cup Winners Cup before it was dropped in 1999 and the European Cup which has now been changed to the Champions League.

 

Tottenham have yet to taste Champions League football after being pipped at the post by their arch rivals Arsenal for fourth place in the 2005/06 season. Tottenham have played exciting and attractive football this season and they have won all eight of their ties in Europe this season but they received a bye to the last 16 when their match against Feyenoord was cancelled as a result of crowd trouble between the Dutch club and Nancy of France.

 

Spurs benefited from that decision but the last time that the London club were in a European quarter-final was in 1991 and they lost out 1-0 to Feyenoord,revenge was sweet this time without kicking a ball. Tottenham Manager Martin Jol knows that this will be a tough match," We are the only team in the competition to record eight wins from eight games and that is good but Seviile will be a very tough test." "They are a great team-lots of flair, with quick players who are good on the ball but on our day, if we can get a good result away from home, our supporters can make the difference at White Hart Lane on an occasion I 'm sure we are all looking forward to." Sevilla coach Juande Ramos was not pleased with the draw, stating that Tottenham are a "great team".

 

"We haven't been lucky at all. On top of that we will play our first leg at home." "All English teams are hard and tricky competitors, it will be tough but Sevilla can't be afraid of anyone. We have to get the best result we can at home and be totally focused". Sevilla have won three and drawn one of their five UEFA Cup home matches this season and have scored 96 goals in European competition they need only 4 more to take their tally to 100.

 

One player in tonight's match will have mixed emotions on the outcome of this match, maybe in fact he was wishing this was the final itself! Frederic Kanoute spent two years at Tottenham after moving from West Ham United. He was a scorer in last years final and he will be one of many men on show tonight that Spurs will have to keep an eye on. With Kanoute and Berbatov on show tonight the eyes of Europe will be hoping it will be raining goals in Spain tonight in what should be a fantastic night of European football for all to look forward to.

 

Other Fixtures tonight

AZ v Werder Bremen

Bayer Leverkusen v Osasuna

Espanyol v Benfica

 

Sean Graham

Thanks to Tottenham Hotspur FC and UEFA Com