Atletico v Tottenham live: Visitors lose sixth game in a row as remarkable 22-minute collapse defines Champions League demolition | OneFootball

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Igor Tudor concentrating on helping team rather than his job

Tottenham Hotspur suffered a dismal demolition at the hands of Atletico Madrid in their Champions League last-16 first leg tie, with Igor Tudor’s side slipping to a 5-2 loss after a remarkable opening 22 minutes in Madrid.

The visitors found themselves a goal down within six minutes after a slip from Antonin Kinsky allowed Marcos Llorente to open the scoring, and the hosts had a second not long later when Micky van de Ven slipped to allow Antoine Griezmann in to slide in an accomplished finish.

It looked bleak for Spurs already but it only got worse moments later when Kinsky scuffed a pass into the path of Julian Alvarez, who tapped in to an open net for 3-0.

The drama continued as Tudor made the decision to withdraw Kinsky in favour of Guglielmo Vicario, but the substitution made no difference as Robin Le Normand nodded in a fourth for the hosts within 22 minutes.

Spurs had the chance to get back in it after Pedro Porro pulled one back but the hosts added a fifth in the second half as Alvarez secured a brace, and while Dominic Solanke’s late goal gives his side hope, the hosts look like they need a miracle if they want to get anything out of next week’s second leg.

Pinned

Tottenham lose their balance, the ball and all remaining dignity in abject defeat to Atletico

If nothing else, Tottenham Hotspur succeeded in putting the mad into Madrid. And yet there may be a sliver of a chance the craziest bit is still to come. In the meltdown in the Metropolitano, Spurs appeared to knock themselves out of the Champions League in 22 strange, shocking minutes. An hour later, Dominic Solanke’s goal might have offered a lifeline to a team seemingly with a death wish. A triumphant comeback next week went from impossible to merely improbable.

Because Tottenham could be grateful they leave Spain only beaten 5-2. They seemed to turn up in the wrong boots, with the wrong goalkeeper and the wrong manager. They gifted Atletico Madrid an assortment of ridiculous goals, the first three each sillier than the last, the fifth with a hole where their defence was supposed to be. A team with a capacity for slip-ups took it literally, losing their balance, the ball, their dignity and, probably, their place in the Champions League. Their manager may lose his job.

Tottenham lose all remaining dignity in abject defeat to Atletico as Tudor faces axe

Atletico Madrid 5-2 Tottenham: Kinsky was subbed within 17 minutes as utterly hapless Spurs shipped four first-half goals in Champions League last-16 demolition

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Chris Wilson10 March 2026 23:03

McManaman: 'When it’s bad, say it’s bad'

“He was spiky yesterday before the game. You would have though the Champions League was a bit of a respite, a breath of fresh air,” says McManaman on Tudor.

“And again he hasn’t helped himself today, he should be there fronting up. He’s the one who needs to front up, he’s the one who’s getting paid.

“When it’s bad, say it’s bad, apologise, say ‘I’m sorry’, and have this air of positivity. We understand it was bad luck today, and you’re right, Romero and Palhinha getting concussion, everything is just piling up.

“But he knew that, he was brought in when they were in a dire position. The fact that he’s made them more dire is on him,” added the former Liverpool midfielder.

Igor Tudor defends decision to start Antonin Kinsky against Atletico despite disaster in Madrid

Igor Tudor insisted he made the right decision to pick Antonin Kinsky against Atletico Madrid – even as he ended up substituting the goalkeeper in the 17th minute after two horrible blunders and with Tottenham 3-0 down.

The Croatian, who replied “no comment” when asked if he deserved to remain in charge of Spurs, said he had never taken a goalkeeper off as early during his 15 years as a manager and said Kinsky apologised to the team for his mistakes.

The 22-year-old Czech was surprisingly selected ahead of usual first-choice Guglielmo Vicario, who was instead brought off the bench and conceded the last two goals in Atletico’s 5-2 win.

Chris Wilson10 March 2026 23:20

Hart: Spurs are 'faceless'

“We talk about Tottenham at the moment, they’re faceless, who’s in charge of it?” asks Joe Hart after seeing the comments from Igor Tudor.

“How can the man who’s been put in charge to steer them in a better direction not want to speak? What sort of message is he sending there? Did he send a message to the fans, he didn’t acknowledge them in the stadium.

“To say that you’re not willing to speak...that’s your job, you’re the coach, it’s no surprise the club are under the cosh at the moment. You need someone standing up in front of the media, re-assuring everyone, you can send message to your opponents, your players, and it’s just not being used.

“He’s almost tried to say they were unlucky tonight...that’s not the message you want to hear,” added the former City ‘keeper.