After drawing their group B opener against Olympiakos Tottenham will be aiming to get their first win of the Champions League campaign on Tuesday evening.
Standing between them and three points are German giants Bayern Munich, who arrive in north London with star forwards Philippe Coutinho and Robert Lewandowski in their ranks.
“Last season in the first three [Champions League] games we had one point,” said the Argentine, whose side won 2-1 against Southampton on Saturday. “No-one believed in us but we got to the final.
“This is why in football it is not how you start. In a long season you need to be calm and strong in your mentality. The most important thing is the belief and spirit.”
Bayern will provide Spurs with their toughest test in the group stage and Pochettino said of the German champions: “They are a club that every season try to prepare themselves to win the competition because their history says that.
“It’s a club that can be one of the contenders to win the Champions League.”
TV and live stream details
The group B clash will be live on BT Sport 2 and BT Sport Ultimate. Coverage starts at 7pm and the match kicks off at 8pm. The broadcaster will also show a live stream of the game at sport.bt.com.
Red Star Belgrade host Olympiakos in the other group B fixture on Tuesday (8pm, live on BT Sport Extra 4).
Team news and starting XIs
Tottenham team news
Spurs remain without summer signings Giovani Lo Celso and Ryan Sessegnon, who are out because of hip and hamstring injuries respectively.
Mauricio Pochettino also revealed that midfielder Moussa Sissoko could line up at right-back against the Germans on Tuesday. The Spurs boss said: “If you remember last season at Barcelona in [the] Champions League game he played in that position. It’s not new.”
Bayern Munich team news
Uefa.com reports that defender Lucas Hernandez is a doubt but could play on Tuesday. However, midfielder Leon Goretzka and striker Jann-Fiete Arp will miss the match.
How the teams could line up
Tottenham possible starting XI: Lloris; Aurier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Davies; Winks, Sissoko, Ndombele; Eriksen; Son, Kane
Tom Doyle, London Evening Standard: Tottenham 2 Bayern 2
“Tottenham have had a frustrating start to the season, going out of the Carabao Cup to Colchester and dropping Premier League points to sit 10 points behind leaders Liverpool. Bayern are currently top of the Bundesliga, but have drawn two of their opening six games, and are not the attacking force they once were. Still, Philippe Coutinho is in superb form, and both he and Robert Lewandowski could cause Spurs some real problems. Prediction: Tottenham 2-2 Bayern.”
Squawka: Tottenham 1 Bayern Munich 1
“Spurs will take great heart from the way they battled to a 2-1 win over Southampton but Pochettino will know his side must go up another level against the Bundesliga champions. Bayern are more vibrant and mobile than in recent years and could cause Spurs problems, although home advantage should help the Lilywhites take a point. Scoreline prediction: Spurs 1-1 Bayern.”
Matt Law, SportsMole: Tottenham 2 Bayern 2
“This has all of the makings of a very, very interesting game of football. Both teams will feel that they can hurt their opponents in the final third, and we are finding it difficult to separate them. We say: Tottenham 2-2 Bayern Munich.”
Tom Kershaw, Independent: Tottenham 1 Bayern Munich 3
“Despite a number of iffy performances to start the season, Spurs will raise their level against Bayern and have shown on numerous occasions that they are capable of holding their own against such opposition. However, with the added threat of Coutinho, and Lewandowski in such spectacular form, Bayern should come out on top in a wide-open attacking game. Prediction: Tottenham 1-3 Bayern Munich.”
Ben Gray, 101 Great Goals: Tottenham 1 Bayern Munich 2
“If Mauricio Pochettino’s side were to lose this one, they could be in a bit of trouble in group B. At the weekend, Spurs did get a much needed win, beating Southampton 2-1 at home. Bayern Munich meanwhile edged past Paderborn to go back to the top of the league in Germany. Prediction: Tottenham Hotspur 1-2 Bayern Munich.”
Charlie Nicholas, Sky Sports: Tottenham 2 Bayern Munich 2
“Mauricio Pochettino seemed as if he might have lost the dressing room but the Saints game was a springboard victory for Tottenham with 10 men. Bayern Munich are not as good as they once were and you can get at them - they rely heavily on Robert Lewandowksi. Philippe Coutinho got his first goal at the weekend and ex-Arsenal man Serge Gnabry is performing well but I'm going for a draw. This will be a result that Tottenham will be happy with. Prediction: Spurs 2-2 Bayern.”
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