Fiorentina coach Paulo Sousa has described Tottenham as one of the best sides in Europe ahead of their Europa League round of 32 second-leg clash on Thursday.

The teams played out a 1-1 draw in last week’s first leg at the Stadio Artemio Franchi, with the tie delicately poised ahead of the reverse meeting in north London.

Spurs head into the match in good form, as their only defeat in their last nine games came last time out when they were knocked out of the FA Cup by Crystal Palace.

Mauricio Pochettino’s team are currently second in the Premier League table and the White Hart Lane outfit’s upturn in form has not gone unnoticed by Sousa, who believes Spurs are currently one of the best sides on the continent.

He said: “I certainly feel and I believe a lot of us also think that Spurs are one of the very best teams in Europe at the moment.

“That’s from a technical, tactical, mentality and physical point of view. They’re a young team, and they’re a very hungry team and every time they go out they want to try to impose themselves.”

The Portuguese boss knows his side will have to be a their very best if they are to progress to the next round of the Europa League, but he will take heart from the fact that the Viola emerged victorious when the two sides met in the same competition last season.

He added: “We need to play with a high level of physical and mental intensity and we need to play our game.”

Tottenham are the 1.83 favourites to secure victory on home soil, while Fiorentina are on offer at 4.33 and the draw is priced at 3.60.