Premier League duo Tottenham and Swansea put unbeaten
records on the line in the third batch of Europa League group action on
Thursday.
Spurs can even qualify for the knockout stages with three
games to spare should they see off FC Sheriff in Moldova and the other Group K
tie ends in stalemate.
Wins in Russia last time out against Anzhi Makhachkala and
Norwegians Tromso have left Andre Villas-Boas's high-flyers coasting in a
competition in which they reached the quarter-finals last season.
Villas-Boas, who lifted the 2011 Europa League trophy with
FC Porto, told uefa.com: "This trophy means a lot to Tottenham -- last
year we embraced the competition in a serious way, and we aim to do so again
this season.
"Our objective is to progress."
Speaking after the Anzhi victory the Portuguese commented:
"A win is what we wanted and gives us the opportunity in the next games
against Sheriff to ensure qualification."
Spurs striker Jermain Defoe is on the brink of rewriting
club history as one more goal will swell his European catch to 24 and draw the
England striker level with club record-holder Martin Chivers.
Swansea made it two out of two to lead Group A with a
hard-fought 1-0 triumph over Saint Gallen in south Wales at the start of the
month.
On Thursday they are back at the Liberty Stadium playing
host to Russian visitors Kuban Krasnodar, facing a Premier League side for the
first time.
Like Tottenham, Swansea, competing in Europe for the first
time since the 1991/92 season, are not only unbeaten but they have yet to
concede a goal.
Both Spurs and Swansea, who were applauded by the Valencia
fans after stunning the Spaniards 3-0 in their opener, are in good heart after
stylish wins on the home front at the weekend.
Britain's third contender, FA Cup winners Wigan, are out to
build on their first ever home European win - a 3-1 triumph over Maribor of
Slovenia - when they host Rubin Kazan.
The Russians represent tough opposition, firing in nine
goals to top Group D, with Wigan two points behind in the all-important second
spot which gains qualification to the next round.
Sevilla, winners of the predecessor to the Europa League the
2006 and 2007 UEFA Cups, are undefeated and lead Group H, a position of
superiority they are out to confirm when they travel to Slovan Liberec of the
Czech Republic.
Group E leaders Fiorentina, buoyed by a 4-2 defeat of
arch-rivals Juventus in Serie A on Sunday, are in Romania to tackle Pandurii
Targu-Jiu.
With Germany striker Mario Gomez sidelined American-born
Giuseppe Rossi, back after three operations in two years, has answered his
club's call, scoring a hat-trick against Juve.
His experience with Villarreal when he scored 11 goals on
the way to helping his former Spanish club reach the semi-finals in 2010/2011
will prove invaluable with the Italians taking seriously their Europa league
engagement.
"This team is built to win," said Rossi after the
Juve win.
"We have big hearts and great motivation. We have great
players on the field and on the bench. Fiorentina can take on anybody."
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