Spurs boss AVB wary of experienced Basle

Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas believes his side are better than tonight’s Europa League quarter-final opponents Basle but is wary of the Swiss outfit’s European experience.

Spurs, who will be without Jermain Defoe after the striker was ruled out for more than days 10 days with a muscle injury, welcome Basle to White Hart Lane for the opening leg of their quarter-final tie and the Premier League club are favourites to progress to the final four.

Reigning Swiss Super League champions Basle have beaten the likes of Manchester United, Bayern Munich and Sporting Lisbon over the past two seasons, reaching the knockout phases of last year’s Champions League. That recent record means Villas-Boas is taking nothing for granted as he looks to lead Spurs to their first piece of silverware since the 2008 League Cup win.