Tottenham Hotspur today learned that they will face Young Boys of Bern for a place in the Champions League. It was a favourable draw for the north London side who avoided the likes of Sampdoria, Dynamo Kiev and Auxerre.
Spurs take on the Swiss Super League runners-up over two legs to secure a place in the Champions League group stage for the first time. The first leg with be played in Berne on either the 17 or 18 August with the home tie at White Hart Lane taking place on 25 or 25 August.
"It's not an easy draw. For them to beat Fenerbache 1-0 in Turkey [to get into the play-offs] is a brilliant result,” Club secretary Darren Eales told Sky Sports.
"All five teams are quality sides. It's up to us to prepare for it and get through. We're looking forward to it and getting into the Champions League group stages.
"Switzerland is not so far to travel, so that's good. And playing at home in the second leg is a bonus. We've got a good chance and a good team, we proved that last season."
While it was a good draw for Harry Redknapp the Berne sporting director described the draw as “the worst that we could have. Tottenham is more difficult than Fenerbache for us. We are happy to play in the Europa League if we lose to Tottenham. Can we win? At the moment no, I don’t think so.”
Should the London club negotiate their way past the Swiss side it will be their first foray in Europe’s premier club competition since the 1961-62 season.
