's Europa League semi-final first leg this evening against Bodo/Glimt will be officiated by Spanish referee Jose Maria Sanchez.
With qualification for next season’s via a top-five Premier League finish now off the table due to poor form, victory in the Europa League remains their only shot at silverware - and their only chance to secure a place in UEFA’s premier competition.
For , it is also an opportunity to end what has been a bitterly disappointing campaign on a high note.
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First, however, they must overcome Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt over two legs. The first match will take place at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this evening, followed by the return leg in Bodo next week.
"They have been pretty consistent in the last few years, obviously they have the same manager and core group of players, but definitely a distinct style of football that they have stuck to and they’ve had success with," Spurs boss Postecoglou said of tonight's opposition. "
"They’ve been pretty consistent in the Norwegian league but also in Europe and every game they’ve played, irrespective of the opposition, they’ve played some really good quality opposition in Europe and always been really competitive.
"I think that is borne from the fact they are very stable and have a clear understanding of how they play their football. It will be a good challenge for us.”
Tonight's referee Sanchez, 41, is a La Liga official and has extensive experience officiating at the top level. This season, he has taken charge of ten matches across UEFA competitions, most recently overseeing ’s Champions League quarter-final second leg against Paris Saint-Germain at Villa Park.
Across those ten fixtures, Sanchez has handed out 39 yellow cards, a clear warning he is not hesitant to reach for his pocket. While yellow card suspensions do not carry over beyond the quarter-finals, Spurs players will still need to be cautious to avoid unnecessary bookings or potential red cards.
Joining Sanchez on officiating duties are assistants Raul Cabanero and Inigo Prieto, with Alejandro Hernandez serving as the fourth official. On VAR duty is Carlos del Cerro Grande, assisted by Cesar Soto Grado.
To reach this stage of the competition, Postecoglou’s side finished fourth in the league phase standings. Having avoided a play-off tie, they then progressed past AZ Alkmaar and Eintracht Frankfurt in the knockout rounds, winning 5–3 on aggregate across those four matches.
So far in their European campaign, Spurs have received two red cards - one for Radu Dragusin in their opening game against Qarabag in September, and another for 20-year-old Will Lankshear on matchday four against Galatasaray.
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