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Europa League | Group Stage
Oct 3, 2013 at 5pm UK
 
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Andre Villas-Boas "extremely happy" with Erik Lamela progress

Andre Villas-Boas is "extremely happy" with how club-record signing Erik Lamela is settling at Tottenham Hotspur.

Andre Villas-Boas has said that he is "extremely happy" with how Erik Lamela has settled at Tottenham Hotspur, but has insisted that the club's record signing faces stern competition in the shape of Andros Townsend.

Spurs bought Lamela from Roma for £30m in the summer, but the Argentine has yet to start a Premier League game, with Townsend being preferred on the right wing and playing himself into the England squad with his performances.

Lamela's starting opportunities have been limited to cup competitions, including Tottenham's 2-0 Europa League victory over Anzhi Makhachkala in Moscow on Thursday, but Villas-Boas has hinted that it is a case of Townsend keeping the winger on the bench, rather than the 21-year-old not impressing.

"I am extremely happy with what Erik has been doing," talkSPORT quotes him as saying. "It was difficult for him because he is a player that likes to be creative, involved in short combinations and he couldn't come into the game as much as we wanted.

"They were difficult conditions [in Russia}. The pitch was awful and it was difficult for technical players to make a difference. We still tried to play the ball but you saw many times we lost it.

"But up until now I'm extremely happy with what he's been doing. He just faces tough competition from Andros Townsend, who has also been doing very well, for that position."

Townsend is expected to start for Spurs in their London derby against West Ham United on Sunday.

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Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
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QFreiburg640212
3Olympiacos62137
4Backa Topola60151

Group B

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QBrighton641113
QMarseille632111
3Ajax61235
4AEK Athens61144

Group C

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QRangers632111
QSparta Prague631210
3Betis63039
4Aris Limassol61144

Group D

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QAtalanta642014
QSporting Lisbon632111
3Sturm Graz61144
4Rakow61144

Group E

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QLiverpool640212
QToulouse632111
3Union SG62228
4LASK61053

Group F

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QVillarreal641113
QRennes640212
3M. Haifa61235
4Panathinaikos61144

Group G

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QSlavia Prague650115
QRoma641113
3Servette61235
4Sheriff Tiraspol60151

Group H

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