Apoel defenders will call on Messi and Ronaldo memories in bid to shackle Kane

25 September 2017 18:24

Apoel Nicosia manager Giorgos Donis believes his defenders will know what to expect from Tottenham striker Harry Kane given they have already faced Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Kane has been in irresistible form in recent weeks, scoring eight goals in his last six matches, including two in Spurs' win over Borussia Dortmund earlier this month.

Another Champions League victory in Cyprus on Tuesday would put Mauricio Pochettino's side in a strong position to qualify from Group H, particularly given Dortmund must take on Real Madrid the same evening.

Apoel were beaten 3-0 by Madrid in their opening game, with Ronaldo scoring twice, while three years ago they went up against Messi and Neymar at Barcelona.

Barca scraped a 1-0 win at home but a Messi hat-trick fired them to a 4-0 victory at the GSP Stadium and Donis is now expecting Kane to provide a similar test.

"Harry Kane is one of the best strikers in Europe at this time," Donis said. "It is not going to be an individual effort to stop him, I think of it as an effort from the group.

"We have done this against Messi, against Neymar, against Ronaldo, against other great players, and the same thing we will try to do tomorrow."

Donis played for Blackburn, Sheffield United and Huddersfield and even made his Rovers debut against Tottenham in August 1996. Chris Armstrong scored twice in a 2-0 victory for Spurs.

"We lost but I played very well on that day!" Donis said. "It is very different to be sitting on the bench and playing in a football match.

"I am very lucky this is my second time participating in the Champions League as a coach. We are realistic but we believe anything is possible if we fight."

Source: PA