This game, on paper a nailed on win for Tottenham, represents a golden opportunity for Spurs to solidify their position in the race for fourth spot in the Premier League.
Both Manchester City and Aston Villa come into this game knowing that only a win will be enough to keep their Champions League hopes alive. A draw would let in Tottenham and Liverpool; achieve a loss and it’s goodnight Vienna.
It’s unlikely that Villa will achieve their ambition of snatching fourth spot from the likes of Tottenham and Man City, but that won’t stop laying it on against Birmingham on Sunday.
With Hull City mired in the Premiership’s drop zone and Aston Villa still in with slim chance of a top four finish, Wednesday clash has connotations for teams in both halves of the league.
Have Villa blown their Champions League chances? Popular wisdom says yes with Martin O’Neill’s team seven points off of fourth spot and the bookies agree with odds of 20.00 plus on Villa finishing in the top four.