Thanks to Chris Fincham for this image

U.E.F.A CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
TUESDAY 10TH MARCH, 2026
ROUND OF 16 (1ST LEG)
ATLETICO MADRID 5(4) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 2(1)

Atletico scorers:-
Llorente, 6
Griezmann, 14
Alvarez, 15, 55
Le Normand, 22

Spurs scorer(s):-
Pedro Porro, 26
Solanke, 76

Attendance:-64,168

Referee:- Serdar Gozubuyuk
Assistants:-Patrick Inia & Rogier Honig
Fourth official:- Jeroen Manschot
VAR:- Pol van Boekel
Assistant VAR:-Rob Dieperink
(All officials from The Netherlands)

Teams:-
Atletico (4-4-2):- 13. Oblak (Capt.); 18. Pubill, 24. Le Normand, 17. Hancko, 3. Ruggeri; 20. Simeone, 14. Llorente (sub 9. Sorloth, 69), 5. Cardoso, 22. Lookman (sub 8. Barrios, 69); 7. Griezmann (sub 6. Koke, 81), 19. Alvarez (sub 23. Gonzalez, 73)
(Armband to club captain Koke)

Subs not used:- 1. Musso; 2. Gimenez, 15. Lenglet, 16. Molina, 34. Julio Diaz; 10. Alex Baena, 11. Almada, 21. Vargas

No bookings

Spurs (3-4-3):- 31. Kinsky (sub 1. Vicario, 17); 4. Danso, 17. Romero (Capt.), 37. Van de Ven; 23. Pedro Porro, 14. Gray, 29. Sarr, 24. Spence (sub 7. Xavi, 83); 39. Kolo Muani (sub 19. Solanke, 46), 9. Richarlison (sub 6. Palhinha, 68), 11. Tel (sub 22. Gallagher, 46)

Subs not used:- 40. Austin; 3. Dragusin, 76. Rowswell; 52. Olusesi

Booked:- Spence (foul on Griezmann), Richarlison (foul on Llorente), Gray (foul on Ruggeri), Danso (foul on Gonzalez), Romero (foul on Simeone)

Farce and disaster at The Metropolitano

Thanks to Stuart Gibson for this image

Spurs slipped up in every way (often literally) in Atletico's Estadio Riyadh Air Metropolitano. They went three down inside fifteen minutes thanks to embarrassing slips by Antonin Kinsky (two) and Micky van de Ven. It was 4-0 in the 22nd minute and there was aa genuine fear of an embarrassing cricket score defeat in what will be our last away European game for at least two seasons - probably more.

Pedro Porro eased the deficit and a second half goal by substitute Dominic Solanke put us within three of Diego Simeone's men.

It is hard to discern Igor Tudor's thinking by replacing Vicario with Kinsky (whose last game was in the League Cup in October), but it would seem he was keen to rest Vicario for the vital league survival programme. His decision backfired in a disastrous way, as Kinsky gifted the home side two goals.

Kinsky was replaced after the third goal, and whilst several teammates offered their condolences and support, Tudor was stony-faced and ignored the distraught keeper (who went straight down the tunnel) who is 22 years old on Friday. This was man management at its very worst.

Tudor has now lost his first four games. Spurs have now lost six consecutive games (for the first time in their history) and it is hard to see Tudor still in charge at Anfield.

To cap our woes, Romero and Palhinha both suffered after a late clash of heads and had to come off. There is a fear both were concussed and that both will miss Anfield.

Spurs fans at the game had to watch from behind a net. Spurs fans at home were behind the sofa.

Thanks to Eugene Gasper for this image

Tudor chose to name just 10 substitutes, including two goalkeepers. James Rowswell and Callum Olusesi were the only Academy players given the honour of a place on this Champions League bench.

Spurs players must have slipped at least a dozen times over the course of the game, and it seems Atletico are subject of regular complaints over their preparation of the pitch. You'd have thought Conor Gallagher would have been aware of any such strategy. Real Madrid lost 5-2 here in September. Eintracht suffered a 5-1 defeat and Barcelona were beaten in the Copa del Rey 4-0 recently. Atletico have scored 20 goals in their last five home games.

Spurs kicked off and Oblak struggled a little with an early cross from the left by Tel. Djed Spence returned at left wing-back and took an early booking for a foul on Griezmann.

The first goal followed Kinsky's first slip as he skewed an intended pass and the ball fell to Alvarez who teed up Llorente for an easy and early lead.

Tel hit a right-footed shot on target from distance after a pass from Archie Gray, and then Kolo Muani over-ran the ball after taking Pedro Porro's pass. Richarlison miscued a shot as he suffered on the Metropolitano lush grass.

It was 2-0 in the 14th minute. Van de Ven slipped and failed to meet Sarr's backward pass from the left flank. Griezmann was presented with the chance to score and did not fail. Within a minute it was 3-0 after Kinsky's second slip and gift to Alvarez.

Atletico's fourth goal followed a foul by Sarr out on the left wing on Alvarez. Griezmann took the kick and Vicario made a good save on his line from a defensive back header, but Robin Le Normand was able to score. For some reason, Le Normand included former Spurs loan player - substitute Clement Lenglet - in his celebrations.

Spurs did then reply after Kolo Muani sent a pass to Richarlison who passed inside to Pedro Porro who scored low past Oblak. Muani was fouled deep on the right wing after chasing Romero's pass. Pedro Porro took the kick and Richarlison's header was well saved. Referee Serdar Gozubuyuk spotted a foul anyway.

28-year-old Ademola Lookman (born in Wandsworth - plays for Nigeria) was recently signed from Atalanta and looked lively on the left wing. Lookman's first team was Charlton, and he later played for Everton and Fulham. Vicario saved from Lookman after Alvarez's diagonal ball. Griezmann threatened our keeper.

Sarr hit a shot from distance which went out for a corner, taken deep from the left by Tel. Romero's header hit the outside of the back post.

There was a VAR check regarding a Van de Ven challenge outside our area, but he survived that examination. Lookman fed the ball to left back Ruggeri, whose cross was missed by Griezmann and hit off target by Llorente.

Tudor made two half-time changes. Gallagher replaced Tel and Solanke came on for Kolo Muani. Spurs won a corner after a Kevin Danso long throw, after which Oblak saved from Richarlison's flying header. Atletico immediately broke out and Alvarez left Spurs players in his wake as he raced goalward and scored low past Vicario.

The home side were leading 5-1 which was a reverse of our historic 1963 Cup Winners' Cup Final scoreline against the same team.

Sarr hit a right-footed shot wide after taking a rebound off Llorente. Both Richarlison and Gray saw yellow and "Ritchie" was replaced by Palhinha. Solanke's goalward effort had insufficient power after Pedro Porro's cross.

It was Oblak's turn to make a mistake as he passed to Pedro Porro who teed up Solanke for a good finish. Archie Gray tried but just failed to reach a Solanke cross.

Club captain Koke, who has played for Atletico for 18 years, came on to make his 725th club appearance, 510 of which have been in La Liga.

After that late clash of heads Palhinha immediately (but reluctantly) left the pitch. Romero tried but was unable to continue. Both will surely be doubtful for Anfield.

The Europa League Champions of 2025 have become the laughing stock of Europe and the Premier League. I doubt that Tudor will still be in charge on Sunday, but wonder who is there to replace him?

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