Spurs show fight to give Tudor first win but bow out of Champions League | OneFootball

Tottenham’s spirited performance on the night was not enough to take them through to the Champions League quarter-finals, but it showed the fight they will need in their bid to stay in the Premier League.

When Randal Kolo Muani scored after half an hour, the Spurs stadium was the loudest it has been all season, with those inside the ground believing their side could pull off an unlikely comeback following their 5-2 first-leg loss.

However, a remontada was not on the cards for Igor Tudor’s men.

Julian Alvarez equalised just after the break before Xavi Simons reduced the deficit again before the hour, restoring a glimpse of hope for the north London side.

However, David Hancko headed home 15 minutes from time, ending any chance of a Spurs comeback. Simons would later score a 90th minute penalty to earn Spurs the win on the night, Tudor’s first as Spurs boss, with Tottenham showing some of the fight that has evaded them all season.

Tottenham came into the match with a mountain to climb, needing three goals after losing 5-2 in Madrid last week. However, buoyed after Richarlison’s late goal at Anfield that earned them a point against Liverpool, there was a feeling in the stadium that Tottenham could do something special.

It seemed as though all that hope had dissipated when Ademola Lookman’s strike rattled the back of the net just five minutes in, but Spurs’ blushes were spared when the assistant quickly raised his flag for offside.

Despite Diego Simeone’s men defending in a deep block and having very little of the ball, they did create chances in the opening stages. Marcus Llorente broke in behind Djed Spence on the Spurs left multiple times, leading to two goalmouth scrambles that Spurs were lucky to survive.

Mathys Tel was Spurs’ bright spark early on. His best moment came halfway through the first half when he knocked the ball past Robin Le Normand to drive into the Atletico Madrid box before firing hard and low towards the near post. Juan Musso was equal to it though, making a comfortable save.

And as the clock struck 30 minutes, Tottenham opened the scoring. Tel floated a beautiful cross to an unmarked Kolo Muani who made no mistake heading home.

Moments later, Tel had a glorious chance to get Spurs’ second. Simons played him in behind Nahuel Molina, but with Archie Gray and Kolo Muani begging for a cross to come in, the Frenchman struck low straight at the goalkeeper.

Tottenham’s positivity going into the second half was shut down after just two minutes as Alvarez rifled the ball into the top corner. The Argentine appeared to foul Simons on the edge of the Madrid box, but nothing was given and the Spanish side quickly broke with the Dutchman down. Lookman found Alvarez in acres of space in the Spurs box and he made no mistake with the finish.

However, Atletico would not be level for long. Five minutes after Alvarez hit the back of the net, it was Simons’ turn. The 22-year-old curled a strike low into the bottom corner from the edge of the area to bring back hope for the north London side.

Tottenham almost had another before the hour when Simons slipped Pedro Porro through. The Spaniard’s effort was destined for the corner but Musso got a hand to it and from the resulting corner Radu Dragusin had a header saved from close range.

Spurs’ chances were already slim heading into the 75th minute, still needing two goals, but Hancko sealed the win for Atletico as he nodded in Alvarez’s corner.

Simons made sure Spurs did win on the night as he calmly placed home a 90th minute penalty to make it 3-2. The Dutchman was brought down in the area by Jose Maria Gimenez and tucked home the spot kick neatly.

Atletico will now face Spanish rivals Barcelona in the quarter-finals, after they beat Newcastle earlier in the day. Meanwhile, Tottenham go into one of their most important matches of the season as they face fellow relegation battlers Nottingham Forest in a must-win clash.