The sellers welcome the spenders in this evening's early featured match in Russia. A few months ago the likes of Yuri Zhirkov, Lassana Diarra, Samuel Eto’o and Willian graced the Anzhi line-up with opponents Spurs standing accused of having just one tactic: pass to Gareth Bale. But those days are gone as a depleted Anzhi Makhachkala face Tottenham in Europa League Group K. Welcome to LIVE coverage of the clash. We kick-off at 17:00.
Europa League / Group Stage
Saturn Stadion / 03.10.2013
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Live
Live Updates
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Updated 03/10/2013 at 18:52 GMT+1
11'
Cracking stuff. Rasim Tagirbekov plays a one-two with the corner flag before nut-megging his marker. It doesn't come to anything but was great to see.
10'
Sandro hoofs an Anzhi free-kick out for a throw. The hosts have settled and are looking bright.
9'
Jermain Defoe and Dembele link up on the edge of the Anzhi area but end up getting in a bit of a muddle.
8'
Chiriches hesitates and allows a high ball to bounce. Pavel Solomatin breaks through and looks set to strike at goal before the defender slides in to make a clean challenge.
7'
Anzhi pressing high up the pitch, not allowing their more illustrious opponents to settle. Vlad Chiriches is almost caught in possession.
6'
Just caught a glimpse of the substitutes bench. The players are huddled under some rather hideous looking rugs.
5'
Cracking atmopshere on a chilly night in the Anzhi-Arena. Spurs in white; Anzhi in a yellow strip with a green tinge.
4'
Let off for Tottenham as a long ball through the middle carves them apart but the linesman's flag shoots up to save them.
3'
And it's Dembele looking sharp again as he's weaves past a couple of Anzhi shirts before finally getting tackled.
2'
Tottenham on the attack early on with Mousa Dembele heavily involved.
1'
And we're underway!
16:55
This is where you come in. Got a thought on tonight’s match? A tasty prediction you think the world should know about? Or just need to get something off your chest? Then get in touch via Twitter. Simply type in @BenSnowball into your search bar and drop me 140 characters. I’ll try and incorporate the best during tonight’s action.
16:50
Anyone think this will be a walkover in favour of the English side? Well hold that thought. Tottenham had a woeful away record in Europe last season, failing to win a single game as they limply bowed out of the Europa League at the quarter-final stage. Just a warning before you have a cheeky flutter on Anzhi though – they’re bottom of the Russian Premier League after 11 matches… Perhaps this will be Spurs’ night after all.
16:45
With fifteen minutes to go until kick-off here are your match odds… As expected Spurs are huge favourites at 1/2 with Anzhi priced at 15/2. Think it’ll be a draw? Well you’re looking at odds around the 7/2 mark.
16:40
Just the one line from Anzhi manager Gadzhi Gadzhiyev, but it’s a bit of beauty: "Tottenham have spent £100m? The parallel is that we sold £100m!”
16:35
Here are some words from Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas: “Our objective is to progress. We know we have to make a big, big effort regarding the trips, but we will be ready and we have learned from last season that we can't use the Europa League as an excuse. We have to use it as an example and the players will be fully motivated to do it this season too."
16:30
Even if Jermain Defoe bags a hat-trick tonight it’s hard to see Andre Villas-Boas reverting from his current pick for the Premier League striker spot: £26 million man Roberto Soldado. Roy Hodgson has just selected the 30-year-old forward in his England squad for their two crucial World Cup qualifiers later in October. Have a gander at the rest of the team…
16:25
So what happened to Anzhi’s impressive squad of stars? Well, it dawned on billionaire owner Suleyman Kerimov that football really isn’t a profitable business in the modern day and quickly set about culling the high-earners from his wage bill. Annoyingly for the club’s fans many jumped ship to other teams in Russia, leaving them in their current situation which we’ll label perilous.
16:20
As expected Andre Villas-Boas makes a host of changes from the side that drew with Chelsea with Hugo Lloris, Kyle Walker and Mousa Dembele the lucky three to retain their places.
16:15
It's a bold team selection from Anzhi boss Gadzhi Gadzhiyev with three forwards - Pavel Solomatin, Serder Serderov and Islamnur Abdulavov - named in the starting XI.
16:10
TEAMS – Anzhi: Pomazan, Angwba, Adeleye, Ewerton, Tagiberkov, Ahmedov, Jucilei, Serderov, Razak, Solomatin, Abdulavov… Subs: Kerzhakov, Demidov, Grigalava, Yeschenko, Gadzhibekov, Gagatov, Traore /// Tottenham: Lloris; Walker, Chiriches, Kaboul, Fryers; Dembele, Sandro; Lamela, Holtby, Chadli; Defoe… Subs: Friedel, Dawson, Naughton, Eriksen, Sigurdsson, Kane, Soldado.