Positive signs for Tottenham despite Champions League exit
Tottenham Hotspur 3 - 2 Atletico Madrid (Atletico Madrid won 7-5 on aggregate)
Spurs claimed a deserved victory against Atletico Madrid but fell short in their attempt to overturn a three-goal deficit.
Author | Greg S
Stadium | Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
The home side were left with too much to do after a calamitous 5-2 first-leg defeat in Madrid, one of four losses in five matches since Tudor replaced Thomas Frank.
There were, however, further signs of progress. Following the 1-1 draw at Liverpool, this was another encouraging display in an absorbing second leg, offering hope as attention turns to the more pressing task of avoiding relegation from the Premier League.
Needing an early foothold, Spurs began brightly and took the lead on the half-hour when Randal Kolo Muani headed in an inviting cross from Mathys Tel for his fourth goal of the campaign.
Tel soon had the chance to unsettle the visitors further after racing through on goal, but Juan Musso, deputising for the injured Jan Oblak, produced a vital save. Guglielmo Vicario responded in kind at the other end, denying both Julian Alvarez and Giuliano Simeone.
An equally entertaining second-half
Atletico quietened the stadium shortly after the restart. Alvarez, formerly of Manchester City, found the top corner with a fine strike to shift the momentum. Spurs were incensed, arguing that Xavi Simons had been fouled in the build-up before the Argentine forward finished a swift counter-attack.
Simons responded swiftly, restoring Spurs’ lead with a precise low drive five minutes later.
Diego Simeone’s side were under sustained pressure and indebted to Musso, who produced key saves from Pedro Porro and Radu Dragusin as Spurs pushed for a late surge.
Those interventions proved decisive. With 15 minutes remaining, Atletico extinguished any lingering hopes of a comeback when David Hancko headed in from an Alvarez corner at the near post.
That goal allowed the Spanish side to regain composure and secure a quarter-final meeting with Barcelona, although Simons’ late penalty, awarded after a foul by Jose Maria Gimenez, ensured Spurs at least had the consolation of a win on the night.
Attention now turns to a pivotal Premier League fixture at home to fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest on Sunday, with the battle for survival firmly in focus.
