Ferencvaros vs. Tottenham Hotspur – Match Preview, Team News, and Lineups

Tottenham Hotspur continues their Europa League journey as they face Hungarian champions Ferencvaros at the Groupama Arena in Budapest. The match offers Tottenham a chance to build on their current form and move closer to European glory, while Ferencvaros will look to hold their ground against strong opposition in front of their home crowd.

This fixture marks the first meeting between these two teams and also Tottenham’s first encounter with a Hungarian club. Both teams come into this game with high hopes, albeit different recent records in their respective European campaigns.

Tottenham Hotspur’s Recent Form and European Outlook

Tottenham Hotspur has been resurgent since suffering consecutive Premier League defeats against Newcastle United and Arsenal. After those losses, they turned their season around, winning four straight matches across all competitions with an aggregate score of 11-2. This string of victories includes a 3-0 win over Azerbaijani club Qarabag in their Europa League opener and a similarly emphatic 3-0 victory against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Against Qarabag, Spurs found themselves in a difficult position early, with defender Radu Dragusin sent off in the seventh minute. However, despite being reduced to ten men, Tottenham managed to secure a comfortable victory, showcasing their attacking threat and defensive resilience. This was followed by a dominant display against Manchester United, where Spurs capitalized on Bruno Fernandes’ first-half red card to record another 3-0 win. Goals from Brennan Johnson, Dejan Kulusevski, and Dominic Solanke underlined their attacking prowess.

Currently sitting eighth in the Premier League, Spurs are three points shy of the top four. Their recent victories have injected new momentum into the team, positioning them as one of the favorites to go far in this season’s Europa League. Despite this, Tottenham’s away form in Europe remains a concern, having won only one of their last nine European away matches. The sole win came in a Champions League fixture against Marseille in November 2022.

Though this is the first competitive meeting between Ferencvaros and Tottenham, Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou is no stranger to the Hungarian side. He faced them during his time at Celtic in the 2021-22 Europa League, guiding his team to two wins—2-0 at home and 3-2 away. Postecoglou will undoubtedly draw on this experience as he prepares his squad for a challenging encounter in Budapest.

Ferencvaros’ Journey and Domestic Dominance

Ferencvaros enters this match as the reigning Hungarian champions, having secured their sixth consecutive Nemzeti Bajnoksag I title last season, finishing 16 points ahead of their nearest challengers. They have had a promising start to the new campaign, winning ten, drawing two, and losing just two of their 14 competitive matches across all competitions.

However, their European campaign has had its challenges. Ferencvaros missed out on Champions League qualification earlier this season after a 3-1 aggregate defeat to Danish side FC Midtjylland in the third qualifying round. Nonetheless, they rebounded by securing a place in the Europa League through a dramatic playoff victory against Bosnian side FK Borac Banja Luka. After a 1-1 draw across two legs, Ferencvaros triumphed 3-2 in a penalty shootout to book their place in the group stage.

In their opening Europa League fixture, Ferencvaros fell to a 2-1 defeat away to Belgian side Anderlecht. Adama Traore’s goal late in the game proved only a consolation as they were unable to secure any points. Despite this setback, the Hungarian side bounced back in their domestic league, defeating Puskas Akademia 3-0 in a top-of-the-table clash last weekend. Matheus Saldanha came off the bench to score a second-half hat-trick, ensuring that Ferencvaros maintained their unbeaten start in the Hungarian top flight.

Ferencvaros’ home form in European competition has been solid in recent years. They have only lost one of their last ten European home games against English opposition, although that defeat came in 1969 when they were beaten 3-0 by Leeds United in the European Cup.

Team News and Possible Lineups

Ferencvaros

Ferencvaros coach Pascal Jansen is likely to field his strongest available team, with no significant injury concerns reported ahead of the match. The defense is expected to see some changes from the side that beat Puskas Akademia, with Endre Botka, Gabor Szalai, and Cristian Ramirez all in contention for recalls. Ibrahim Cisse could retain his place, or Raul Gustavo might start if Jansen opts for a back five.

In midfield, Philippe Rommens is expected to replace Habib Maiga and partner Mohammad Abu Fani in the center. Norwegian playmaker Kristoffer Zachariassen should retain his spot in the attacking midfield role, providing support to the forward line.

Adama Traore, Ferencvaros’ standout attacker, may switch from the right flank to the left if Kady is recalled to the starting XI. Traore’s versatility and ability to create chances will be key for Ferencvaros, as they will need his pace and finishing skills to trouble Tottenham’s defense.

Up front, Jansen has the option of starting either Barnabas Varga or Matheus Saldanha, the latter of whom is in fine form after his hat-trick last weekend. Given Saldanha’s recent scoring exploits, he may get the nod in what will be a crucial test against Tottenham’s strong defensive line.

Ferencvaros Possible Starting XI:
Dibusz; Botka, Cisse, Szalai, Ramirez; Abu Fani, Rommens; Kady, Zachariassen, Traore; Varga

Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham will be without a few key players for this Europa League clash. Radu Dragusin is suspended following his red card against Qarabag, while both Richarlison (calf) and Wilson Odobert (hamstring) are still sidelined due to injuries. Postecoglou also confirmed that Destiny Udogie and Son Heung-min will miss the match. Udogie picked up a thigh injury during the win over Manchester United, while Son was ruled out due to a hamstring problem.

Despite these absences, Postecoglou has several options to rotate his squad. Archie Gray and Ben Davies are likely candidates to start as full-backs, while in midfield, the likes of Yves Bissouma, Pape Matar Sarr, and Lucas Bergvall will be pushing for a place in the starting lineup. All three have shown promise this season, and Postecoglou may use this match to give them valuable playing time.

Up front, Brennan Johnson, who has been in fine form, is expected to retain his place, while Dominic Solanke and Timo Werner could complete the attacking trio. Johnson’s pace and ability to finish chances make him a key threat for Tottenham, and Solanke’s physical presence will provide an additional dimension to Spurs’ attacking play.

Tottenham Hotspur Possible Starting XI:
Vicario; Gray, Romero, Van de Ven, Davies; Sarr, Bissouma, Bergvall; Johnson, Solanke, Werner

Tactical Battle

The tactical battle between Ferencvaros and Tottenham promises to be an intriguing one, with both sides possessing distinct styles. Ferencvaros, playing at home, will look to control the midfield and exploit the wings through the pace of Adama Traore and the creativity of Kristoffer Zachariassen. Their ability to maintain possession and create chances from wide areas will be critical to breaking down Tottenham’s defense, especially given Spurs’ recent tendency to sit deep and absorb pressure when necessary.

Ferencvaros may also look to take advantage of Tottenham’s occasionally shaky record in European away matches, hoping to strike early and put the visitors under pressure. Pascal Jansen’s side has proven they can be a tough team to beat at home, and with a passionate home crowd behind them, they will aim to frustrate Tottenham by maintaining a solid defensive structure while looking for quick counter-attacking opportunities.

For Tottenham, the challenge will be to assert their dominance early on and use their superior quality in attack to create goal-scoring opportunities. Postecoglou’s side has shown they can be clinical in front of goal, and with players like Johnson and Werner in the lineup, they possess the speed and movement to exploit any defensive weaknesses in the Ferencvaros setup.

Tottenham’s midfield trio of Bissouma, Sarr, and Bergvall will play a key role in controlling the tempo of the game and winning back possession quickly. Their ability to transition from defense to attack will be crucial, especially against a Ferencvaros team that thrives on counter-attacking football.

Key Players to Watch

Adama Traore (Ferencvaros):
Traore has been one of Ferencvaros’ standout performers this season, and his ability to beat defenders with his pace and power makes him a constant threat. Whether playing on the left or right, Traore will be key to Ferencvaros’ attacking play, and his matchup against Tottenham’s full-backs could be decisive.

Brennan Johnson (Tottenham Hotspur):
Johnson has been in excellent form for Spurs recently, and his goal-scoring prowess and ability to run in behind defenses make him a key player for Postecoglou’s side. His pace will be vital in breaking down a potentially deep-lying Ferencvaros defense.

Match Prediction

This encounter promises to be a tightly contested affair, with both teams entering the game in good form. Ferencvaros’ home advantage and solid recent performances in European competition give them hope of pulling off an upset, but Tottenham’s superior squad depth and recent attacking displays suggest they have the edge