Brighton Eye Top Eight Finish in Season Finale Against Spurs | OneFootball

Tottenham and Brighton Prepare for Low-Key Premier League Finale

Spurs bask in Europa League glow

Tottenham return to home turf on Sunday buoyed by the afterglow of European success, their final Premier League outing of the season carrying an atmosphere more akin to a celebration than a contest. A narrow 1-0 win over Manchester United in Bilbao secured the club’s first major silverware since 2008, vindicating Ange Postecoglou’s forecast that triumph would come in his second season.

With the Hotspur Stadium still reverberating from midweek celebrations — fans even spilled onto the pitch during a watch party — expectations for a competitive, full-throttle encounter with Brighton may be misplaced. The football might take a backseat to the farewell, but there’s still a job to do.

Brighton look to cement top-half finish

For Brighton, the stakes are minimal. The Seagulls technically retain an outside chance of qualifying for the Europa Conference League, but that relies on a complex chain of events: they must win, Chelsea must lose to Nottingham Forest, and the Blues would also need to falter in the Conference League final against Real Betis. More realistically, a point at the Hotspur Stadium would ensure an eighth-place finish — a respectable three-place leap from last season.

Photo: IMAGO

Fabian Hürzeler’s side, efficient and stylish when in form, will want to close out their campaign with composure. But the context may dilute intensity, and this could be more a curtain call than a clash.

Key absentees shape squad selection

Tottenham have emerged from their Europa League triumph relatively unscathed, though they still face a number of absences. Lucas Bergvall was withdrawn late from the travelling squad midweek, and Timo Werner remains sidelined with a hamstring issue. James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, and Radu Dragusin are out for the season, though all three were present in Bilbao for the celebrations.

Brighton’s line-up could also feature rotation. Full-back Tariq Lamptey remains a doubt with a knee issue and enters the final weeks of his contract without an extension on the table. Jason Steele requires a late fitness test on a wrist injury, and Joao Pedro is uncertain after a training ground clash last week. Georginio Rutter is touch-and-go, while Solly March, Ferdi Kadioglu, and James Milner are all expected to miss out.

Prediction points to a subdued conclusion

It’s difficult to imagine Tottenham approaching this match with urgency. Still basking in their Europa League success and unlikely to be fully match-sharp, the tempo may be subdued. Brighton, with little on the line but professional pride, could edge it if they show any sharpness.

As post-season fatigue and off-pitch festivities loom large, the encounter might prove more valedictory than volatile.

Prediction: Brighton to win 3-1