Spurs, Fiorentina bid to carry momentum into Europa League

As the Europa League group stages continues on Thursday, AFP Sports picks five of the matches to look out for in the second round of pool matches:

Monaco (FRA) v Tottenham (ENG)

After thrashing Manchester City 4-1 in the Premier League last weekend, Spurs will be in good heart for their Group J trip to France to take on Monaco. Having beaten Qarabag 3-1 in their Europa League opener Argentine coach Mauricio Pochettino will also be doubly relieved to see two of his stars find their feet -- record signing Eric Lamela dominated City's expensively assembled midfield while England's rampaging striker Harry Kane ended a goal drought. Monaco, who lost to Valencia in the play-offs this year, made it to the Champions League semi-finals last season thanks to a rock solid defence.

The Principality side only managed a draw with Anderlecht in their opening game, but Leonardo Jardim's side have let in eight goals in their last three league games having sold two top defenders in Layvin Kurzawa and Aymen Abdenoour. If Monaco are sitting in mid-table in Ligue 1 many pundits would point the finger at the club's Russian billionaire owner Dmitry Rybolovlkev's puzzling clear-out, cashing in on some of the club's top talent.