Despite the hosts laying siege on the Monaco goal the team from the principality held firm and eventually ground out a victory which could go a long way to determining both side’s fortunes in the competition. But it wasn’t them who made for the backbone of Spurs’ terrific team – it was the defense. While this is their first foray into the Champions League in over five years, they compete in Europe frequently, so they know how to balance the two competitions.
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“We conceded the second in the same circumstances as the first”.
While three points didn’t come their way and furious Pochettino said he would have replaced all of his players after the match, Spurs can be boast what was a mighty spectacle as fans streamed down Wembley Way – decorated in Spurs’ logos – ahead of the mid-week fixture against the Ligue 1 leaders. The two teams will be facing off at Wembley Stadium as opposed to Spurs’ usual home of White Hart Lane. Given how good Harry Kane has looked for Tottenham, it’s his turn to make his mark on the Champions League. The midfielder gathered the ball and ran into the box making space for himself and he hit a fantastic shot into the back of the net to give the visitors a goal against the run of play.
Monaco have a few more injury issues, but will still have quite a strong squad. However, Danijel Subasic produced a smart save low to his right to keep out Erik Lamela’s curling effort.
15′ – GOAL! Spurs 0-1 Monaco. Spurs’ early push for a second goal caused Monaco all kinds of problems, and Alli was soon cut down by Glik, with the Polish defender running into a booking. They were rewarded when Toby Alderweireld headed in Lamela’s corner, an atmosphere-changing goal. When Alli almost converted Lamela’s cross in added time, a positive result felt possible again.
On went Moussa Dembele, and Pochettino’s men threw everything at the French side.
This was Spurs’ best spell of the game and they had to take advantage.
Secondly, he benched Victor Wanyama, dropping Dele Alli back into a deeper-lying midfield role alongside Eric Dier and giving the pair a chance to pick up where they had left off at Stoke.
Indeed, Kane should have restored parity, firing a giltedge opening into Subasic’s gloves after Vincent Janssen had played him in, meanwhile the Spurs rearguard had to be on their metal as Djibril Sidibe and Tiemoue Bakayoko countered menacingly from the flanks.
The club has confirmed that more than 80,000 tickets have been sold for the clash – which would mean the biggest ever attendance for a Champions League tie in this country, as well as a home attendance record for the Lilywhites.
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A draw trades 11/4; a road win is a 4/1 shot.
