How Spurs Might Struggle Against Fiorentina

On a level playing field, Spurs are the better team than their upcoming Europa League opponents Fiorentina.

Were they to play in the same domestic league, Spurs could reasonable expect to consistently get results against the Viola. While they are an impressive team – they currently sit third in the Serie A table for good reason – they are likely not equipped to handle a full strength Spurs team.

Paulo Sousa’s team does a lot of things very well. They know how to keep possession and to cycle the ball from midfield up through attack. On occasion they can even implement what amounts in Serie A to a very impressive pressing game, hassling opponents’ attempts to retain possession for themselves.

Compared to the conditioning, pace and physicality present in this Spurs squad, though, they likely fall short. Their ability to best Spurs last season and to hold them to a 1-1 draw last week is more a testament to rotation Mauricio Pochettino implemented than any relative lack of quality in the usual starting XI.

Considering that rotation has been a consistent theme through this run of cup games so far, Spurs might face a similar weakness again Thursday.

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That being said, Fiorentina have plenty of reason to field their own weakened side in North London. They have a match against second place Napoli coming up on Sunday, and Sousa might feel the need to hold back here if it might mean improving their Serie A position.

So what does a second string Fiorentina look like against a second string Spurs? Still pretty dangerous actually.

Fiorentina’s primary advantage will be defensive. They have conceded the second least shots in Serie A – only Juventus is better. Their penchant for retaining possession is a big part of that, but they also have a good two-way midfield that successfully shields their backline while also being able to surge forward when they have the ball. Such layering has troubled Spurs before – indeed, it troubled them last week in Florence – and could be enough to see Fiorentina through if they can find a way to score an away goal of their own early in the match.

From an offensive standpoint, Fiorentina’s biggest advantage against Spurs is likely to come down their left hand side. Kieran Trippier is due to be rotated up to the right-back position by Pochettino. While the Englishman has proven his worth from an attacking standpoint over the last couple months, compared to Kyle Walker his defensive game is certainly wanting.

That will pose a problem to Spurs for two reasons: Federico Bernardeschi – the scorer of Fiorentina’s equalizing goal last week – and Marcos Alonso. Both are players who have featured as wingers/wing-backs in Sousa’s preferred three-at-the-back tactical formation in the league, and they both love it when opposition full-backs give them space to operate in.

Next: Has Spurs Can Beat Fiorentina

Trippier will give them that space, not only through being caught up field when Spurs lose possession but also because his marking isn’t quite up to the level of the rest of Spurs’ backline. The best remedy for that will be Toby Alderweireld moving out wider and Eric Dier dropping deeper. Combined those two have been able to cover for Trippier and Walker in the past, and they can do so again here.

Still, Spurs need to stay disciplined on that flank. Conceding a goal here to Fiorentina would clearly give them the advantage and – perhaps worse – might lead to extra time if Spurs can also find a way through the visitor’s defense. Even if Pochettino rotates a healthy portion of the squad, it is less than ideal if even a few regular starters are obliged to play thirty extra minutes of football prior to hosting Swansea in the Premier League on Sunday.

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