Liverpool legend Steve Nicol has backed Tottenham Hotspur to knock Borussia Dortmund out of the Champions League during the Round of 16 tie between the sides in February.
Spurs qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions League as runners-up from Group B, while Borussia Dortmund finished as winners in Group A, ahead of Atletico Madrid.
Despite their contrasting fortunes both domestically and in Europe, both teams will know they will have their work cut-out if they are to book their place in the quarter-finals this season.
Mauricio Pochettino will be aiming to do better than Tottenham’s Round of 16 exit to Juventus last season, but will know that Lucien Favre’s men have enjoyed a stellar start to the new campaign.
Nicol, who won the European Cup with Liverpool in 1984, has backed Tottenham to knock Dortmund out of the Champions League Round of 16 clash in February.
The former Reds defender also hailed the Tottenham backline as one of the best in football right now and added that their defenders will play a key role if they win against Dortmund.
“I would say that this is going to come down to Tottenham’s backline”, Nicol said on ESPN FC.
“If Tottenham defend the way they can, at their best they are really organised, they can keep everyone in front of them, they can make challenges.
“Tottenham have got one of the best backlines in football right now, when they are at their best, and if they stop Dortmund, they will win the game.
“I’m going to go for Tottenham, I think they can do it.”
Tottenham are currently third in the Premier League, two points ahead of rivals Chelsea, after securing 39 points from their 17 games so far this season.
