The Daily Star Ireland
The Europa League match between Tottenham Hotspur and IF Elfsborg will take place on Thursday, January 30, 2025, at 21:00, held at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. This Matchday 8 match pits ninth-placed Spurs against 25th-placed Swedes in an exciting match-up within the competition’s updated league format.
Therefore, the home side, in fine fettle, should start as clear favorites to win. A handicap bet of Tottenham -1.5 is also worth considering for those seeking better odds. Over 2.5 goals might also be a good bet, considering both teams have shown some attacking promise recently.
Tottenham Hotspur Overview
Spurs sit ninth in the Europa League standings with 11 points after six matches, winning three, drawing two and losing one, finding the net 11 times and conceding seven. At home, the Spurs remain unbeaten, managing to win twice and draw once at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
They have also shown great resilience, coming out with a hard-fought 3-2 victory in their last away win against 1899 Hoffenheim to illustrate their attacking ability. Tottenham, under the management of Angelos Postecoglou, has adopted an intense, press-heavy system that places emphasis on dynamic, fluid attacking football. This rejuvenated philosophy has upped their European standing and made them one of the forces to be reckoned with.
IF Elfsborg Overview
Elfsborg is the 25th-best team in the league and has had a mediocre performance in the Europa League, gathering only seven points from six matches. The team has recorded two wins, one draw, and three losses, scoring eight and conceding 11 goals. They have been very poor on the road, having lost all three away matches, a run that could prove difficult to overcome against a formidable Spurs side.
Despite these challenges, Elfsborg will draw inspiration from their recent narrow 1-0 home win over OGC Nice. Manager Oscar Hiljemark, still in the early days of his managerial career, has his work cut out to devise a tactical game plan that can nullify Tottenham’s attacking threats while exploiting any lapses in defense.
First-Ever Meeting
This will be the first competitive match between Tottenham Hotspur and IF Elfsborg, adding a bit of unpredictability to the match as both teams face unfamiliar opponents.
Recent Form
Coming into this fixture, Tottenham have been in fairly good form of late, garnering three wins and two losses in their last five matches across all competitions. The ability to always get up whenever defeated is what makes them strong. Meanwhile, Elfsborg has had mixed recent results with two wins, two draws, and a loss in the last five games, reflecting both potential and inconsistency.
In their last matches, Tottenham won 3-2 against Hoffenheim, while Elfsborg struggled to a 1-0 victory against OGC Nice.
Prediction
Superior quality, home advantage, and strong tactical discipline from Angelos Postecoglou will give Tottenham a clear chance in this match. Though Elfsborg has shown real glimpses of quality, the poor away record is likely to be an enormous barrier.
The most expected outcome is a comfortable win for Tottenham, with over 2.5 goals in the match since both teams are attacking. Elfsborg might also score, but the overall strength of Tottenham will help them secure the three points.
Prediction: Tottenham Hotspur 3–1 IF Elfsborg
