Tottenham Hotspur's Champions League dream may be over this season but avoiding defeat at home to CSKA Moscow will see them progress into the Europa League Round of 32 after Christmas.

That may seem like a consolation prize compared to the bright lights of Europe's premier competition but there's still plenty on offer for Mauricio Pochettino's team on the continent this season.

Often seen as a distraction by teams in the Premier League, the competition is taken more seriously in Spain, Portugal, Germany and France - six of the last ten winners have come from Spain alone.

If the north London side do treat the competition with respect, they'll be among the favourites. Not many clubs have the player-base and budget on the level of Spurs.

Here are our THREE reasons why Spurs should make the Europa League a priority this season...

First European trophy in over 30 years

Spurs haven't tasted European success since 1984 when finals in the competition were still two-legged affairs. For a club of Spurs' size, that's a long time to wait for success on the continent and Pochettino's side are well placed to try and create history themselves given their talent.

Tottenham have actually won the tournament twice with some legendary names like Alan Mullery, Alan Gilzean, Gary Mabbutt and Steve Perryman all picking up the trophy in white.

In 1963, they became the first British side to win a European cup, defeating Atletico Madrid 5-1 in the European Cup Winners' Cup final.

It's a legacy that deserves to be taken seriously and we're sure the current squad would be well remembered for delivering success.

Champions League place up for grabs

CSKA Moscow v Tottenham Hotspur - UEFA Champions League Group Stage - Group E

With competition at the top of the English Premier League as fierce as ever, winning the Europa League could prove one of Spurs' best opportunities to return to the Champions League next season.

The four teams above Spurs in the Premier League table are looking very strong and Manchester United's poor form is unlikely to continue. Qualification through the Premier League suddenly becomes a bit of a lottery.

The Europa League presents Spurs with the chance to effectively be nine games away from a Champions League spot in 2017/18. Doesn't sound too shabby if you ask us, especially when you consider it would come with a historic trophy.

Big European nights

Football Soccer - Tottenham Hotspur v AS Monaco - UEFA Europa League Group Stage - Group J - White Hart Lane, London, England - 10/12/15 Tottenham's Joshua Onomah Reuters / Dylan Martinez Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY.

There's nothing quite like massive European nights on your home turf, especially in a knockout competition. The lights, the expectation, the atmosphere, the players raising their game. It's magical stuff.

There are plenty of big names going forward in the Europa League too; Fenerbahce, Olympiacos, Roma, Athletic Bilbao, Fiorentina, Lyon, Besiktas, Borussia Monchengladbach. All are iconic European clubs that would be sure to bring in crowds and capture the interest of Spurs fans across the world.

It may not be the Champions League, but it's still a smashing tournament and if Pochettino plays his best XIs and inspires them to go out with intent to win, anything could happen under the bright lights of White Hart Lane.