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Match Preview: Tottenham Hotspur travel to Cardiff City

By Zaph Hutson

BARCELONA, SPAIN - DECEMBER 11: Christian Eriksen and Toby Alderweireld of Tottenham Hotspur warm up with team mates prior to the UEFA Champions League Group B match between FC Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur at Camp Nou on December 11, 2018 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
BARCELONA, SPAIN - DECEMBER 11: Christian Eriksen and Toby Alderweireld of Tottenham Hotspur warm up with team mates prior to the UEFA Champions League Group B match between FC Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur at Camp Nou on December 11, 2018 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images) /
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Tottenham Hotspur travel to Wales to take on Cardiff City this Tuesday night. The Premier League clash will feature very different clubs from opposites sides of the table. Still, Tottenham should not let their guard down.

Team Form

When it comes to form, Tottenham look great. Over their last 5 matches they have won 4 and lost 1. Between matchweek 18 and 19 Spurs scored a total of 11 goals against Everton and Bournemouth.

Even so, Tottenham were gutted after they lost 1-3 to Wolverhampton on Saturday. Their offensive power was missing and mistakes were made on defense. Even though Cardiff are certainly a weaker team than Wolves, no chances should be taken.

The players that contributed the most offensively in the previous matchweeks were Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son. Son in particular has raised eyebrows, tying for first place when it comes to goals scored over the past 7 matchweeks.

Of course, Kane and Son couldn’t have done it without the support of Dele Alli, Christian Erisken, and Lucas Moura. Even if Pochettino decides to rest some starters, Cardiff will have to face some world-class players.

Cardiff City are quite a different story, as you might imagine. Over the past 5 matchweeks they have won 2, lost 2, and drawn once. Still, they have been performing much better than how they started the season. Cardiff are fresh off of a 0-1 win at Leicester and are no longer in the relegation zone.

Tottenham to get the W

LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 26: Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates after he scores his sides 4th goal during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and AFC Bournemouth at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on December 26, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Alex Broadway/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 26: Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates after he scores his sides 4th goal during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and AFC Bournemouth at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on December 26, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Alex Broadway/Getty Images) /

The way that Cardiff City can compete is by matching Spurs goal for goal. This doesn’t seem likely. Even with their loss to Wolves, Tottenham have been averaging 4 goals a match over the past 3 matchweeks.

If Tottenham keep this form, Cardiff will have no chance because they have no offensive weapons of their own. Their highest scorer over these previous 20 matchweeks is Callum Paterson with 4 goals. He is followed by Victor Camarasa with 3.

Spurs have the tools to win offensively but need to make sure they don’t concede a couple of odd goals. Pochettino can- and should- rest some attackers but he needs to employ the very best defensive lineup he can think of. Spurs need to win here to get their confidence back and chase down that title.

Prediction

3-0 Spurs

Even though Cardiff City are out of the relegation zone, they are a very weak team. This match is just what Tottenham need to get back in their dominant form.

Next. Tottenham keys to second half success. dark