Tottenham were deserving winners in the San Siro in the first leg of their Champions League tie with AC Milan a fortnight ago and can book their place in the last eight in style.
A draw would be enough for Harry Redknapp’s men to advance to the quarterfinals on their first attempt thanks to Peter Crouch’s winner in the famous stadium but it’s not in Redknapp’s nature to try to protect a lead and Spurs are much better on the front foot anyway.
While Gareth Bale is rated only 50-50 to line up against the Italian giants it should be noted that the Welsh winger was absent in the original clash and Spurs’ dependence on Bale has lessened in recent weeks.
Steven Pienaar deputised brilliantly against Massimo Allegri‘s men in the 1-0 win and were Bale to fail a fitness test my confidence in the wager would only be slightly diminished.
More importantly, perhaps, for Tottenham is the news that playmaker Rafael Van Der Vaart has shrugged off any lingering injury doubts to take his place in the starting line up and his partnership with Crouch this season has been prolific in this competition.
Spurs topped a strong looking group with ease ahead of defending champions Inter Milan, scoring 18 goals in six matches along the way, and their form at home was imperious.
Victories over FC Twente, Inter and Werder Bremen at White Hart Lane, bagging at least three goals on each occasion, made for a trio of memorable nights and the London club should be feared by everybody else left in the knockout stages.
Milan arrive in the English capital sitting top of Serie A but we saw in the first leg just how laboured they looked against genuine pace and creativity in midfield and I expect Spurs to pour it on from the first whistle on Wednesday.
Milan’s recent from against Premier League clubs is wretched and with both Gennaro Gattuso, he of the now infamous head butt, Massimo Ambrosini and Andrea Pirlo missing from the middle, this could be fairly comfortable for the hosts.
3pts Back Tottenham (vs. AC Milan) @ 2.30 (various)