Atlético Madrid 5-2 Tottenham: Ruthless Atlético dominate lacklustre Spurs in first leg of Champions League clash | OneFootball

Tottenham fell to a 5-2 defeat against Atlético Madrid at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano on Tuesday, shipping four goals inside a calamitous opening 22 minutes.

Igor Tudor’s men conceded three goals in the first 15 minutes in the Spanish capital, brining an early end to Antonin Kinsky’s UEFA Champions League debut, and let a fourth past Guglielmo Vicário soon after.

Spurs clawed their way back through goals from Pedro Porro and Dominic Solanke either sde of Julián Álvarez’s second goal, but still have a mountain to climb in North London next week if they are to reach the quarter-finals of Europe’s elite club competition.

As it happened

It hasn’t been the love story Igor Tudor would’ve imaged when he was appointed Spurs boss on the 14 February, with the 47-year-old still awaiting his first win.

It took Atléti only six minutes to find the opening goal. After Spurs were dispossessed in their defensive third, Marcos Llorente smashed the ball into the bottom corner.

Antoinne Griezmann was next in line for the hosts, and it was vintage from the French forward as his body feint delayed Kevin Danso’s tackle, creating space to finish past Antonin Kinsky.

It was a monumental moment for the Spurs goalkeeper, making his UEFA Champions League debut. But a moment that most players would cherish quickly became one to forget for the Czech shotstopper.

His swing of a clearance was completely missed, which led to the onrushing Julián Álvarez tapping the ball into an unguarded net.

Tudor, ruthlessly, substituted his goalkeeper on the 17th minute after the mistake.

Pedro Porro managed to reduce the deficit for Spurs when he slotted his effort past Jan Oblak, which provided some positivity for the Lilywhites.

After the interval, Oblak provided a crucial save to deny Richarlison’s header and in a flash Álvarez had sparked a counter-attack, which he finished clinically just 12 seconds after his goalkeeper’s heroics at the other end.

Diego Simeone’s infectious passion and energy from the side lines was reciprocated on the pitch by his players. Every tackle was cheered; every pass was applauded. This was a demolition job from his side and a true statement.

Spurs still sought to probe forward and managed to get a second goal when Dominic Solanke fired his strike into the roof of the net in the closing stages.

These two sides will meet once again in a week’s time at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but for now, Spurs will turn their attention to a trip to Anfield on Sunday. Meanwhile, Simeone’s team will focus on their fixture against Getafe on Saturday 14 March.