Villas-Boas talks up Lyon threat - Betting Tips - Europa League
Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas believes Thursday's opponents Lyon are the toughest team Spurs could have possibly been drawn against in the knockout phase.
The north London outfit play host to the seven-time French champions in the first leg of their Europa League last-32 tie and will be looking to carve out any kind of advantage they can for the return leg across the Channel next week.
Despite having lost the last two games in Ligue 1, falling behind league leaders Paris Saint-Germain as a result, Lyon bring a team packed full of quality to White Hart Lane.
This could be a test of whether we're good enough to play in the Champions League.Andre Villas-Boas
Lisandro Lopez, Yoann Gourcuff and Bafetimbi Gomis have all made the trip as they look to end Tottenham's dream of claiming a European trophy.
So far this season Villas-Boas has taken the Europa League seriously, fielding a strong team in the majority of Spurs' group matches.
With his side now out of the Capital One Cup and FA Cup, the Europa League represents the last chance for the Portuguese coach to claim a piece of silverware in his first season at the club.
Tottenham are 19.00 to win the competition outright, with defending champions Atletico Madrid 7.00 and Premier League rivals Chelsea 7.50.
With Spurs currently chasing a top-four finish and subsequent qualification for the Champions League, Villas-Boas believes this last-32 tie with Lyon represents a good chance for his team to test themselves against one of Europe's elite clubs.
Villas-Boas said: "This could be a test of whether we're good enough to play in the Champions League. I think we've been handed the most difficult draw of this knockout phase. This is like a Champions League tie, Lyon represent a club with tremendous Champions League experience in recent years.
"It will be a good test for Tottenham. It's always going to be a learning experience for us and I think it can serve that purpose towards the future, that's for sure."
The ex-Chelsea and Porto boss went on to say that former Lyon goalkeeper Hugo Lloris wouldn't face his old club, with Brad Friedel set to be a given run-out instead.
Spurs are 1.75 to win the first leg, with their French opponents 5.25 and the draw 3.75.
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