A timeless classic
Marseille fans let off fireworks outside the hotel that Tottenham are staying at ahead of their crucial Champions League game tonight (Tuesday November 1).
Fireworks were set off by the supporters at 1:30 and 4:30am this morning in what was described as a “very prolonged” attempt to disrupt Spurs’ preparations.
Footage of the fans setting off the fireworks – which is believed to have woken up the players – has been released. France were celebrating Halloween as a national holiday, meaning that many were out late drinking and in fancy dress.
Marseille fans set off fireworks outside Tottenham's hotel at around 3am ahead of a huge UCL game tonight. 🎆⤵️ pic.twitter.com/up7EBRmbcI
— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) November 1, 2022
Tottenham face a difficult night in the south of France, with qualification to the knockouts of the Champions League on the line.
Defeat for the north London side would mean they would have to settle for a Europa League spot at best whereas a win or draw will secure their passage to the last 16.
They will also be without manager Antonio Conte, who is serving a one-match touchline ban after he was sent off in the draw against Sporting Lisbon last week.
Conte will be allowed in the stadium but will not be permitted to enter the dressing room, tunnel area or technical area and cannot directly communicate with the players.
Marseille are also facing punishments of their own with the Visage Nord section of the Stade Velodrome as a result of the clashes in the terraces that occurred between both sets of supporters during their clash with Eintracht Frankfurt in September.
The total capacity of the stadium will be reduced by 12,000 seats for tonight as the pressure on Conte and Spurs to qualify continues to mount.
Related links:
- “But why?! Why?! The ball went backwards!” – Tottenham rage as Antonio Conte red-carded
- Graeme Souness says Celtic and Rangers could share a new 100,000-seater stadium
- PSG set to record losses of £317m after details of Kylian Mbappé’s contract emerge
