Good evening! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for tonight's Champions League Group E clash as Tottenham Hotspur welcome Bayer Leverkusen to Wembley. The group is very tight at the halfway stage, with just three points separating the four teams and all of them very much still in contention to qualify for the knockout stages, so every game is a key one. We should be in for an intriguing contest tonight, then, but let's start with a look at the team news...

TOTTENHAM STARTING XI: Lloris; Walker, Dier, Vertonghen, Davies; Wanyama, Dembele; Sissoko, Eriksen, Dele; Son

TOTTENHAM SUBS: Vorm, Carter-Vickers, Rose, Winks, Onomah, Nkoudou, Janssen

BAYER LEVERKUSEN STARTING XI: Leno; Henrichs, Tah, Toprak, Wendell; Brandt, Aranguiz, Baumgartlinger, Kampl; Hernandez, Mehmedi

What can we make of those two teams, then? Well, the bad news for Tottenham fans in the build-up to this match is that Harry Kane remains sidelined having missed the last six weeks with ankle ligament damage, despite being rated as 50-50. He could return in time for the North London derby against Arsenal on Sunday, but for now top scorer Son will lead the line as Vincent Janssen - who has scored two penalties in his last two games for the club - drops to the bench.

Janssen's absence is one of two changes made to the side by Pochettino from the team that drew 1-1 with Leicester City at the weekend, with Moussa Sissoko coming in in his place. The summer signing is currently serving a three-match domestic ban after elbowing Harry Arter during the recent draw with Bournemouth, but he is still eligible for European matches. He will play in the trio just behind the striker alongside Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen - players who need to start shouldering some of the goalscoring burden in Kane's continued absence.

Protecting the defence tonight are Victor Wanyama and Mousa Dembele, who are beginning to establish themselves as the primary defensive midfielders in the Spurs squad. It will be interesting to see what the pecking order looks like when Eric Dier returns to that position, but for now the England international remains at centre-back in place of the injured Alderweireld. Dier, incidentally, makes his 100th appearance for Spurs this evening.

The second change from Spurs comes at left-back, with Danny Rose once again dropped to the bench for a Champions League game in favour of Davies - as he was in the reverse two weeks ago. Aside from that, though, it is a very familiar defensive unit with Vertonghen joining Dier in the middle and Walker retaining his spot on the right. Hugo Lloris was arguably the star of the show for Spurs when these two met in Germany two weeks ago, and he continues between the sticks tonight.

Lloris made one particularly memorable save to deny Hernandez in that match, and the former Manchester United striker once again leads the line for the German outfit this evening. He never managed to score against Tottenham during his time at Old Trafford, but his scoring record since joining Leverkusen has been very impressive. This season alone he has seven goals in 13 appearances, while his last 10 starts in the Champions League have yielded seven goals. He is likely to be the main dangerman for the visitors tonight.

Hernandez may not be the only player that Spurs need to keep an eye on, though, and Mehmedi is another who has the ability to snap up any chances that come his way. He netted against Wolfsburg at the weekend and has also been directly involved in three of Leverkusen's last four away goals in this competition, scoring twice and assisting another. The team sheet released by Leverkusen suggests that he will play in a central striking role tonight, which would be a slight change from his position against Wolfsburg at the weekend.

In terms of personnel, Roger Schmidt has made three changes from that team that beat Wolfsburg, with one of those coming in midfield as Baumgartlinger comes in for Lars Bender, who misses out with a heel injury. He will partner Aranguiz in the middle of the park, while Brandt and Kampl provide the width on either flank. None of those midfielders have scored a goal for Leverkusen in the Bundesliga yet, though, so the main goalscoring burden will fall on the shoulders of the front two.

The other two changes both come in central defence, with Toprak and Tah both having overcome muscle problems to feature. The duo missed out against Wolfsburg, and one of their replacements - Jedvaj - actually scored the winning goal in that match. However, that is not enough to keep his place in the side as he drops out along with Dragovic. Henrichs and Wendell retain their places at full-back, though, while Leno continues in goal.

That is the challenge that stands in front of Tottenham tonight, then, and it is one that they may not go into with as much confidence as they may have a few weeks ago. Spurs have made a good solid start to the season, and indeed are still the only unbeaten side in the league having made their best ever start to a Premier League campaign, but they have suffered a dip in form of late and are in growing need to a victory to get back on track.

It is now five matches on the bounce in all competitions without a win for Spurs, with their last victory being that highly-impressive 2-0 triumph over Manchester City at White Hart Lane exactly a month ago. That win was their fifth in a row, but since then they have only managed four draws and a defeat to Liverpool in the EFL Cup. That loss to Liverpool is their only defeat in the last 10, but the recent spate of draws have not done much for their hopes in either the Premier League or the Champions League.

Spurs are still very much in the mix on both fronts, but the dropped points have seen them slip slightly off the pace domestically. Saturday's 1-1 draw with champions Leicester City - who picked up their first away point of the season courtesy of a draw - leaves them fifth in the table, two points off fourth-placed Chelsea and another one off the leading pack of Man City, Arsenal and Liverpool. They are heading into a key period now which sees them travel to the Emirates to take on Arsenal in the North London derby on Sunday before further London derbies against West Ham and Chelsea and, sandwiched in between, their Champions League tie with Monaco.

It is Monaco who currently lead the way in Group E, but things are so tight that one round of matches could completely change the complexion of the group. Spurs are one point behind the French outfit and one point above Leverkusen, so qualification remains firmly in their hands, but a negative result tonight would change all of that. Two wins from their final three Champions League games will guarantee them a place in the last 16, though.

Perhaps the biggest concern for Spurs going into this match is their form at Wembley, which acts as their home ground for Champions League games this season due to redevelopment work which has reduced the capacity of White Hart Lane. They have only played once at Wembley so far, but that saw them fall to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Monaco, whereas at White Hart Lane they are unbeaten in six. Indeed, stretching even further back they have lost their last five outings at the new Wembley, being beaten in the League Cup finals of 2009 and 2015, the FA Cup semi-finals of 2010 and 2012 and that Monaco game. Their only win at the stadium came in their first appearance at the ground, beating Chelsea in the 2008 League Cup final.

Another major concern for the team right now will be their goalscoring form, which has not been good enough in recent weeks. Spurs have created plenty of chances during their five-match winless streak - including having 22 shots against Leicester at the weekend, but they haven't scored a single goal from open play in that run. No team in the top seven of the Premier League has scored fewer than their tally of 14, while their two-goal tally in the Champions League is among the worst - only Legia Warsaw, Dinamo Zagreb and Club Brugge have scored fewer, and all of them sit bottom of their group.

Indeed, those two goals are the only ones that they have scored in their last six Champions League outings, and they have come from 43 attempts on goal during their three group games so far this term. Spurs have also failed to score more than one goal in any of their last seven outings in this competition, so don't expect a goal rush from Pochettino's side tonight. At the other end they are in fine form, boasting the best defensive record of any team in Europe's top five leagues, but their lack of a cutting edge in the final third has cost them in recent weeks.

It was Leverkusen who couldn't get the ball in the back of the net the last time these two teams met, having 13 second-half shots to Tottenham's zero, and despite Hernandez's record for the club they have struggled to score domestically so far this term too. No team has scored fewer in the top 10 of the Bundesliga, managing just 13 from their nine outings, although there has been an improvement in the past week with four goals in their last two games.

Unlike Spurs, though, there is no saving grace at the other end of the field. Only one team has conceded more in the top 12 of the Bundesliga, while away from home they have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 10 away games. That includes a recent penalty shootout defeat to third-tier side Sportfreunde Lotte in the second round of the cup, despite Lotte ending the game with 10 men.

That early cup exit was just another setback in what has been a poor season domestically for Leverkusen so far. They are languishing in the bottom half of the table having lost four of their opening nine games, already five points off the top four and 10 adrift of leaders Bayern Munich. They did come from behind to beat Wolfsburg 2-1 on Saturday, ending a four-match winless streak in all competitions, but it will take a few more positive results to repair the early-season damage.

Things have not exactly gone to plan on the European scene either, with Bayer drawing all three of their Champions League group games so far. They began by having to come from two goals down in a 2-2 draw with CSKA Moscow before falling foul to a stoppage-time equaliser in a 1-1 draw against Monaco. The goalless draw against Spurs in Germany two weeks ago made it three points, three goals scored and three goals conceded from three games, and they need an upturn in form if they are to reach the last 16 this term.

However, you have to go back to September 2015 for Leverkusen's last Champions League victory - a 4-1 triumph over BATE. That is their only victory in their last 11 group games, and since the win they have failed to pick up maximum points in eight consecutive Champions League games. The majority of those have been draws, though, including each of their last five outings in Europe's top-tier club competition.

Away from home things aren't great for Leverkusen either. They are winless in their last seven Champions League games on the road since a 2-1 victory over Zenit in November 2014, while they have only won two of their last 24 away games in the Champions League proper. That is a run that stretches all the way back to 2002, so it is fair to say that they don't travel particularly well in this competitions - good news for Spurs' hopes of winning at Wembley!

The visitors are looking for consecutive wins for the first time this season tonight, and while neither side have been firing on all cylinders of late, Leverkusen's away form suggests that there could be goals in this one. They have both scored 17 and conceded 17 goals in their last 10 matches on the road in all competitions, and their results have been just as mixed, with three wins, a draw and four defeats in eight games this season.

PREDICTION: Right, we're 10 minutes away from kickoff at Wembley, which means that it is time for a prediction! This is quite a tough one to call considering the form of both teams, and especially as Spurs don't seem to enjoy themselves at Wembley. Even so, the hosts have been creating chances of late and they should be able to take some of them sooner or later. I'll go for a 2-1 home victory!

These two sides have met just twice before, and Leverkusen are yet to pick up a win against Tottenham. The most recent clash was, of course, just two weeks ago as Spurs held out for a goalless draw - thanks largely to Lloris, although Janssen did also hit the bar for the visitors in Germany. Their other meeting came almost exactly a decade ago, again in Germany, when Dimitar Berbatov scored the only goal of the game to hand Spurs a 1-0 UEFA Cup victory, just six months after moving to Tottenham from Leverkusen.

Tottenham have only lost of their eight home games against German opposition in Europe, winning six of those, but that solitary defeat did come last season when Borussia Dortmund won 2-1 at White Hart Lane in the last 16 of the Europa League. Overall, Tottenham have won nine, drawn three and lost seven of their 19 previous games against German teams, and one of those defeats was their heaviest in Europe - losing 8-0 away to Koln in the 1995 Intertoto Cup.

Leverkusen, meanwhile, have never won a game in this competition in England, losing seven and drawing one of their previous eight visits in the Champions League. The most recent of those was a 4-2 defeat to David Moyes's Manchester United in the 2013-14 campaign, although that was still better than their away result against the Red Devils, who ran out 5-0 winners in Germany. Home and away, Leverkusen have won just three of their previous 20 games against English teams, drawing five and losing 12.

Right, the players are out and we're just about ready to go here at Wembley! Hopefully another exciting night of Champions League football awaits us - it certainly looks like quite a spectacle inside the stadium!

KICKOFF: Here we go then! We're underway at Wembley as Spurs look to take a big step towards qualification for the knockout rounds.

UPDATE: Already time for an update from elsewhere, and Tottenham old boy Gareth Bale has given Real Madrid the lead inside a minute against Legia Warsaw in Poland.

This has not been a particularly good start from Spurs. Leverkusen have piled the pressure on them early on and the hosts are not doing themselves any favours with some sloppy play inside their own half.

We're only six minutes in, but already Leverkusen have pressed Spurs really well. Tottenham just can't get out at the moment - the visitors are all over them.

Better from Spurs as they get their first prolonged spell of possession tonight. The attack eventually breaks down when Davies's pass inside is cleared away, but that spell should help the hosts settle into this one after a very shaky start.

Nice work from Alli as he nicks the ball past Tah before being dragged down by the defender, who is fortunate not to avoid an early yellow. Spurs do have a free kick in a good position, but it is curled straight into the arms of Leno.

UPDATE: There has been a goal in the other match in Group E tonight, and it is the leaders Monaco who have taken the lead against CSKA Moscow through Valere Germain. That would put them right on the brink of the last 16. Elsewhere, both Dortmund and Juventus have taken the lead in their matches against Sporting Lisbon and Lyon respectively.

It's all a bit scrappy in the middle of the park at the moment, with both sides struggling to keep possession for any real length of time. Leverkusen have been pressing high and playing full of energy in the opening exchanges.

Almost a chance for the lively Leverkusen once again as Hernandez gets in behind the defence down the right channel, but his cutback is just behind Mehmedi and Walker is able to clear.

Davies tries an ambitious effort as the ball breaks to him around 30 yards from goal, but he may not be trying it again. He slices it well off target.

Still no major chances to speak of in the opening 20 minutes here, but the game has been played at a decent tempo by both teams. The pressing of Leverkusen in particular has almost caused Spurs a few problems, but the visitors have so far been unable to capitalise.

Almost an opening for Spurs as they break through Alli, who slides the ball down the line for Sissoko. His cross is collected by Leno, but the keeper spills it on the stretch and is relieved to see it fall to a teammate who clears the danger.

Tottenham have enjoyed 61% possession in the first quarter of this match, but it is when they have the ball that Leverkusen actually look the most dangerous as they try to win it back deep inside the home side's half. This one is very interestingly poised at the moment.

With Monaco winning, Group E currently sees Spurs three points adrift of the leaders which, while it may not affect their chances of qualifying too much, will be a big blow to their hopes of winning the group and, in theory, getting an easier draw for the knockout rounds.

UPDATE: Speak of the devil - Monaco have doubled their advantage against CSKA Moscow. They look like they're on their way to another three points!

Vital interception from Dembele as he turns a cross behind just when it looked like reaching Hernandez at the far post. It was Walker who gave the ball away initially, but Brandt couldn't pick out Hernandez on the counter.

TOTTENHAM SUB: An early blow for Spurs here as Dembele makes way to be replaced by Vincent Janssen. That must be an injury, although Dembele doesn't really look to be struggling and he has a long chat with Pochettino on his way off. Very interesting change.

Dembele is now sat on the bench with an ice pack, although it still isn't exactly clear how serious that injury is. It didn't look too bad, but with the North London derby coming up on Sunday it is certainly a setback.

SAVE! The first meaningful shot of the match finally arrives in the 33rd minute as Leverkusen's defence drop deeper and deeper as Eriksen storms forward. The Dane is able to carry the ball a long way before letting fly, but his shot is straight at Leno, who pushes it away to safety.

Interestingly, Christian Eriksen is the player who has dropped deeper alongside Wanyama since Dembele's departure, rather than Dele Alli. Son has moved out wide with Janssen taking his place in the middle, meanwhile.

Well, I mentioned in the build-up to this one that both sides have struggled a bit for goals this season, and that is proving to be the case tonight too. Very little in the way of clear-cut chances here.

The majority of this game has been played in the middle third so far, and there has been very little to separate the two teams. It is a good, even tussle between these two, as it was in Germany a fortnight ago.

UPDATE: Monaco have their third of the evening, and after scoring his first Champions League goal for more than six years earlier, Radamel Falcao has doubled his personal tally to put the French outfit in complete control.

CHANCE! Huge chance for Leverkusen to take the lead right on the stroke of half time! It is dreadful play from Walker as he casually collects the ball on the edge of his own area and allows Brandt to nip in and burst into the box. Vertonghen slides in to make a fine challenge, but the ball then falls to Hernandez, who steers his effort inches past the post from 10 yards. Vertonghen, on the ground, stuck out a leg to get a vital touch on the effort, but I was expecting the net to bulge there!

There will be one minute of added time at the end of this first half.

Alli has the ball in the back of the net, but the whistle had gone a long time before for a foul by Janssen. The striker had levered Tah out of the way before stinging the palms of the keeper, who could only push the ball into the path of Alli. His finish into the empty net does not count, though.

Well, that wasn't the best 45 minutes of Champions League football you will see this season. It remains goalless at the interval, but Tottenham could quite comfortably be behind. They did not play well at all in that first half, and only a lack of cutting edge from Leverkusen has kept them in the game.

Clear-cut chances have been very few and far between, but by far the best of the lot came with just two minutes of the first half remaining. Kyle Walker carelessly lost possession on the edge of his own box, but he was bailed out by Jan Vertonghen, who first slid in to dispossess Brandt before getting a crucial touch to Hernandez's follow-up effort on its way inches past the post.

Aside from that, there has only been one other shot worth a mention, when Eriksen burst forward from midfield before stinging the palms of Leno with an effort from outside the area. Eriksen is now playing in a deeper role after Mousa Dembele was forced off through injury - compounding a pretty miserable half for the hosts. The main positive they can take from it is that they are still level.

Leverkusen have by no means had a whole host of chances themselves, but their high press has made things difficult for Spurs, who have lacked any cohesion while going forward. They have struggled in possession and looked like a team of strangers in that opening 45 minutes. Pochettino will be demanding a massive improvement in the second half.

KICKOFF: Leverkusen get us back underway for this second half as they look to get a goal that will lift them above Spurs in Group E.

CLOSE! Much better from Spurs, and they are inches away from taking the lead here! The ball breaks to Eriksen, who fires a low strike just wide after everyone else had looked towards the ref following a penalty shout. Alli went down just inside the area, and let's just say I've seen them given! Leverkusen have got away with one there.

Having just seen the replay for that penalty again, there was a slight piece of contact from Alli, but not a huge amount. Jonas Eriksson was right on the scene and said no, but there wouldn't have been too many complaints if it had been given either. Could have gone either way!

This has been a lot better from Tottenham in the second half so far. They would have gone in at half time knowing that the first-half display was not good enough, and they seem to have reacted here.

There are more than 85,000 people inside Wembley tonight, which is a record for an English club playing a home game at the stadium. It hasn't exactly inspired Spurs so far, though.

SAVE! Eriksen is the only player who has threatened for Tottenham so far tonight, and he lets fly from a long way out here. However, it is an easy one for Leno as he collects it comfortably.

Confirmation of Tottenham's record-breaking attendance...

Spurs come forward with a bit of pace here as Alli slides the ball in to Janssen, who holds off the challenge of Tah but can't squeeze his shot on target from a tight angle.

CLOSE! Walker has had a bit of a shocker in defence tonight, but this is him at his attacking best. The full-back bursts past three defenders on his way into the box before shooting across goal, but the ball skims just past the far post.

CHANCE! Big chance for Leverkusen at the other end! Dier is the defender at fault this time, being caught in possession by Mehmedi, who reaches the byline before pulling the ball back for Hernandez. The striker sees his first effort blocked by Vertonghen, though, before being denied by Lloris with the rebound.

Tottenham have such a good defensive record under Pochettino, but if they get away with a clean sheet tonight then Leverkusen only have themselves to blame. The hosts have made five or six really bad defensive errors.

This time it is Sissoko who bursts forward with a powerful run from just inside the Leverkusen half. He makes it into the area, but then rushes his effort and slices it harmlessly wide.

Spurs have finally been punished as Leverkusen take the lead! It is a sweeping move from the visitors that takes them to the edge of the area, but they need a stroke of luck as Aranguiz's effort deflects very kindly into the path of Kampl. The midfielder finds himself with only Lloris to beat, and he makes no mistake from close range.

As things stand, then, Tottenham will be third in the group with their knockout hopes really in danger. The hosts can't really complain about being behind, though.

TOTTENHAM SUB: Tottenham did make a change in the aftermath of that Leverkusen goal, by the way, with Harry Winks replacing Eriksen.

LEVERKUSEN SUB: The visitors also make a change here as Brant makes way to be replaced by Hakan Calhanoglu.

This has been such an uncharacteristic performance from Tottenham tonight. The defence is usually the best part of the team, but they have been so shaky here, and that has fed throughout the rest of the team.

TOTTENHAM SUB: Pochettino makes his third and final change of the match as Georges-Kevin Nkoudou comes on in place of Son.

Spurs now have just 15 minutes to rescue something from this game. A draw would not be the worst result in terms of the Group E standings, but defeat would leave them in a bit of trouble. It would also be six games without a win heading in to the North London derby.

Another shooting chance for Hernandez on the edge of the box, but once again there is a white shirt in the way. Davies makes the block this time, but the full-back paid the price and looks to have hurt himself. Spurs have made all three changes, remember.

Fortunately for Tottenham, Davies is back up and looks like he will be fine to continue.

Half a chance for Leverkusen to grab a secnd as Calhanoglu's corner is met by Toprak, but he mistimes his header and it drops harmlessly onto the roof of the net.

The curse of Wembley?

Spurs win a free kick just outside the box following a foul on Alli. Janssen and Dier are lining this one up...

OFF THE BAR! Oh it is almost brilliant from Dier! The England man hits a beauty of a free kick over the wall, but it cannons back off the crossbar with the keeper beaten! The bar is still shaking!

SHOT! Davies is the latest to go for goal, but he drags his effort a couple of yards wide of the far post.

LEVERKUSEN SUB: The goalscorer Kampl sees his evening end early, limping off on the far touchline to be replaced by Kevin Volland.

LEVERKUSEN SUB: That is quickly followed by another change as Aranguiz joins the walking wounded to be replaced by Kai Havertz.

That Dier free kick aside, there haven't really been many moments when it looked like Tottenham would get back into this match. They have been second best tonight and can have no complaints if they go on to lose this one.

Spurs have five minutes of added time to rescue something from this match!

It will be interesting to see what Pochettino says about this performance after the game, and also how they bounce back against Arsenal. If they do perform like this again in the North London derby then, the form Arsenal are in, you'd have to back the Gunners to pick up a fairly comfortable win.

The referee brings an end to the match at Wembley, and it is Bayer Leverkusen who are celebrating at the final whistle. It was an abject display from Spurs in truth, and they can have no complaints at ending up on the losing side to make it six games without a win. Kevin Kampl scored the only goal of the game to leave Tottenham's hopes of reaching the knockout rounds in trouble with only two games remaining.

Right, that is all we have time for this evening! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for tonight's match as Tottenham's Champions League hopes take a major blow courtesy of a 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Leverkusen. I will leave you with our match report, and be sure to stick around for reaction too. From me, though, it is goodbye for now!