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Tottenham’s hunt for a Champions League place is not over yet. Spurs are currently seventh in the league but can still mathematically qualify. Next up for them are Wolves. Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have been in somewhat of a free fall lately and will be looking to string together some wins.
A second defeat in five matches left Tottenham adrift of the Champions League positions, even if their blow was softened later on by Chelsea’s loss to Arsenal. As things stand, Spurs will miss out on the Champions League and the Europa League. Harry Kane and Co are seventh in the league, and failure to improve their position in the next three matches will see them compete in the Europa Conference League next season.
Wolves, likewise, have endured a disastrous season. Nuno Espírito Santo’s side has lingered mid-table for the majority of the season. However, their poor form can be accredited to their two key players – Raul Jimenez and Pedro Neto – getting sidelined from long-term injuries. Wolves have failed to score enough goals to propel them towards the top half of the table. As things stand, they are 12th in the table, four points adrift of Aston Villa in 11th. They are on track to finish in the bottom half of the table.
Tottenham and Wolves meet each other in the league for their next encounter. The pressure will be on Spurs to produce a win from this match and continue their unlikely push for a Champions League spot. However, Wolves have been building a little bit of momentum lately and could take advantage of their opponents’ bad form.
Key Players
It is rare that in a season, one player finishes top of the scoring and assisting charts. Harry Kane is on track to do the unthinkable this season, and yet, he won’t be crowned as the league’s player of the Year. Nevertheless, the player’s focus at this moment will likely be on helping his team qualify for Europe rather than a few individual awards. Kane has scored 21 goals this season and has provided 13 assists. He will be looking to add to that tally when Spurs take on Wolves on the weekend.
Apart from Kane, there is only one other Spurs player who has recorded double digits in both goals and assists in the league. That player happens to be Kane’s partner in attack – Son Heung-min. The South Korean has scored 17 times this season and provided 10 assists. He has scored in the last three league matches and will be looking to continue his good run of form against Wolves.
Wolves have had a largely forgettable season, as they currently linger in mid-table. The loss of some key players has definitely hurt them, and the fact that their replacements have not been able to step up in their absence. Adama Traore has bridged that gap in recent weeks. The winger has scored twice recently against Brighton and Fulham – enough to keep Wolves from falling into a relegation battle.
Such has been the dearth of goals for Wolves this season that central midfielder Ruben Neves is their joint top-scorer in the league. The Portugal international has scored five times in the competition and has one assist to his name. However, the midfielder’s game goes beyond just goals and assists. He is a constant presence in the middle of the park and is often the key cog between his team’s defence and attack.
Prediction
Neither Tottenham nor Wolves are in exceptional form. In fact, both teams have struggled in recent weeks and have lost a combined three matches between them in their last ten games. Tottenham have lost two of their last five, with their latest reverse against Leeds United pushing them back in the top-four race. Wolves, meanwhile, have lost one of their last five, which was a 4-0 thrashing at home against Burnley.
Harry Kane has been the saving grace for Tottenham this season. The Englishman, remarkably, is leading the lead in terms of both goals and assists. However, his team’s general performance over the course of the season means that his efforts are likely to go unrewarded. Meanwhile, Son Heung-min and Gareth Bale have found form recently, adding to the constant threat of Kane.
Given their squad strength – and Wolves’ relative lack of it at present – Spurs will be favorites heading into the match. Unlike Wolves, Tottenham have their sights firmly set on a target – qualifying for the Champions League. However, Ryan Mason’s side is going to have to win all of their remaining matches to stand a chance at qualifying for the competition next season.
