Tottenham Hotspur fans may have feared the worst when they finished as runners up to Bayern Munich in Group B of the Champions League. However, they would have breathed a sigh of relief when the draw for the next round was made, and they were able to avoid the likes of Juventus and Barcelona.
Instead, they will be faced with a slightly tricky tie against RB Leipzig. The Bundesliga side have started the new season excellently and are currently top of the German top division. Their young squad has scored more goals than anyone else in the Bundesliga, and there is a clear danger man that Spurs must be wary of.
Timo Werner is one of the most prolific strikers in world football and has already scored 18 goals in 16 appearances in the Bundesliga this season. The 23-year-old is being touted as one of the next best things to come out of Germany, and he has already attracted attention from the likes of Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Manchester United.
Any chance that Tottenham have of progression will likely hinge on whether they can keep the big striker quiet. He has already hit the ground running in the Champions League as he is averaging a goal every other game so far.
However, Spurs should feel confident that they have enough in the team to safely navigate this fixture. Leipzig lost once in the group stages; with that defeat coming against Lyon.
Should Tottenham perform to their highest quality, then they should be able to squeeze through into the quarterfinals of the competition, where bigger challenges will undoubtedly lie ahead. In Jose Mourinho, the club has a manager that knows precisely what is needed to get through these awkward Champions League fixtures, and that will give fans confidence.
The first leg will take place at the New Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on the 19th February, before the return leg in Germany takes place on the 10th March.