U.E.F.A CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
MATCHDAY 7
TUESDAY 20TH JANUARY, 2026
(8PM)
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 2(2) BORUSSIA DORTMUND 0(0)

Scorers:-
Romero, 14
Solanke, 37

Attendance:- 52,713

Referee:- Glenn Nyberg (SWE)
Assistants:- Mahbod Beigi & Andreas Soderkvist (SWE)
Fourth official:- Kristoffer Karlsson (SWE)
VAR:- Dennis Higler NED
Assistant VAR:- Angelos Evangelou GRE

Teams:-
Spurs (4-2-3-1):- 1. Vicario; 23. Pedro Porro, 4. Danso, 17. Romero (Capt.), 13. Udogie; 15. Bergvall (sub 67. Byfield, 62), 14. Gray; 28. Odobert, 7. Xavi, 24. Spence; 19. Solanke (sub 39. Kolo Muani, 70)

Subs not used:- 31. Kinsky, 40. Austin; 66. Hardy, 76. Rowswell; 52. Olusesi, 54. T. Thompson; 44. Scarlett, 68. Williams-Barnett, 70. Akhamrich

Booked:- Gray (unsporting conduct)

Dortmund (3-4-3):- 1. Kobel; 3. Anton, 4. Schlotterbeck (Capt.), 5. Bensebaini; 2. Yan Couto (sub 14. Beier, 76), 7. Bellingham, 8. Nmecha (sub 17. Chukwuemeka, 64), 24. Svensson; 27. Adeyemi (sub 21. Fabio Silva, 64), 9. Guirassy (sub 23. Can, 46), 10. Brandt (sub 26. Ryerson, 46)
(Can took the armband)

Subs not used:- 31. Ostrzinski, 33. Meyer; 25. Sule, 28. Anselmino, 39. Mane; 16. Duranville

Booked:- Ryerson (unsporting conduct)

Sent off:- Svensson (26 - serious foul play – high tackle on Odobert)

Crisis? What crisis?

Welcome to the alternative universe of Spurs in the Champions League this season. Against all odds, with 13 players unavailable and a bench full of youngsters, Thomas Frank's side won their fourth home game of this league phase, without even conceding a goal. The victims this time were second-placed Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund, who had Swedish international defender Daniel Svensson sent off midway through the first half for a dangerous high tackle on Wilson Odobert.

Spurs are unbeaten at home in Europe in 26 games since losing 1-0 to Leipzig 6 years ago. With Wednesday's matchday seven games and the final round to go, Spurs have moved up to fourth place ahead of PSG and Man City, who both lost last night. We are guaranteed a play-off game and, in this form, stand a chance of finishing in the top eight with automatic entry to the round of 16. Our final league phase game is away to 33rd-placed Eintracht Frankfurt who travel to Qarabag tonight.

Frank's side picked itself really, in the knowledge that fit again Dominic Solanke had replaced Mathys Tel in our squad. In his first start of the season, Solanke scored his first goal of the season to follow Cristian Romero's opener which was his fifth club goal of the season.

With resources so thin, Thomas Frank clearly decided attack was the best form of defence and a refreshing brand of football was seen played by Spurs in the first half. There was very little dawdling in our own half and plenty of running football, played at pace by the likes of Xavi (a prime member of the team), Bergvall and flank players Pedro Porro and Odobert on the right with Spence, and Udogie operating on the left. Spence played ahead of Udogie.

The home crowd roared their side on. A full contingent of Dortmund fans was present and sang and bounced throughout the game, come what may.

Spurs kicked off and played towards the North stand. In what was to be a typical move down the right after a pass down the line by Pedro Porro, Odobert crossed and Dortmund conceded a corner. In another attack Spence flew down the left and the ball was worked to Pedro Porro. Dortmund conceded a throw this time.

The first goal followed a corner won on the left by Spence. Pedro Porro took the kick. Odobert fluffed his chance at the back post but then crossed sharp and low from the right side. Romero scored with a low right-footed shot.

Adeyemi was a danger for the visitors and was not shy of a tackle either, being spoken to by Swedish referee Glenn Nyberg after a second foul. This one was on Udogie.

Bergvall won a tackle in midfield and fed the ball to Xavi, who in turn passed to the advancing Udogie, but he was blocked. Another Porro-Odobert move led to a chance for Xavi, whose shot took a deflection and won a corner. After the corner, Dortmund cleared with a long ball to Adeyemi, who was smothered by two defenders.

A determined Spence run took him to the byline and when he crossed, both Solanke and Pedro Porro's efforts were blocked.

Svensson was initially shown a yellow card when he fouled Odobert, but VAR took Mr Nyberg to the monitor, and we all knew what was coming. The yellow card was replaced by red and Dortmund had to adjust.

After a pass from Spence, Xavi thrilled the crowd with a cross/shot which passed just wide of goalkeeper Kobel's left post. Spence had an angled shot go over the bar after Solanke had headed the ball on.

Pedro Porro and Odobert advanced down the right again, and Odobert hit a super low cross which was met by Solanke in front of Kobel. Dominic seemed to fluff his initial touch, but the ball rolled into the net off his trailing leg!

Kevin Danso crossed from the right and Xavi fired over before Pedro Porro found Odobert with a good ball. The goalkeeper held Wilson's shot.

Dortmund coach Niko Kovac made a double substitution at half time including the insertion of club captain Emre Can, who took the armband from Schlotterbeck.

The visitors looked more solid and with Spurs seemingly looking to consolidate rather than stretch their lead, we forgot that Dortmund were down to ten men. Bergvall fouled Jobe Bellingham just outside the box and the other half-time sub Ryerson hit a shot wide of Vicario's right post, with the Spurs keeper stranded in the middle of his goal.

Bergvall was fouled at the other end and after the free kick, Spence cut back to Xavi, whose shot was high. Bergvall needed treatment and Schlotterbeck suffered in another midfield challenge. He was not happy after treatment when ordered to leave for the statutory 30 seconds and seemed to want the referee to administer punishment. He also berated the fourth official.

Bergvall succumbed and was replaced by 17-year-old Ju'nai Byfield, who made his club debut. Byfield has been on the bench previously and had an outing in pre-season. He played at right back with Pedro Porro moving into midfield. The crowd applauded his every touch early on.

Kolo Muani replaced Solanke in the only other Spurs substitution. Following a good flowing move a powerful shot by Xavi was saved by Kobel, conceding a corner, after which Romero headed into the side netting.

Kolo Muani made a run into the Dortmund area but was blocked off. He was given a great chance by Xavi's excellent pass but failed in a one-on-one with the keeper. In another move, Muani mysteriously gave up on a run (perhaps he thought he was offside) before Djed Spence did chase and retrieve the ball near the bye line.

There was a melee in front of the East stand between Ryerson and Archie Gray, both of whom were booked.

In the closing stages Schlotterbeck had a header after a Dortmund free kick, pushed over the bar by Vicario. Pedro Porro raced forward and his attempted shot was blocked. Xavi went down in the box, but the referee deemed there was no foul.

Spurs were able to celebrate a good win and a fifth consecutive Champions League win over Borussia Dortmund. Now they need to produce that first half form at Turf Moor on Saturday.

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