U.E.F.A CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
WEDNESDAY 18TH MARCH, 2026
ROUND OF 16 (2ND LEG)
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 3(1) ATLETICO MADRID 2(0)
(Atletico won 7-5 on aggregate)

Spurs scorers:-
Kolo Muani, 30
Xavi Simons 52, 90(pen)

Atletico scorers:-
Alvarez, 47
Hancko, 75

Attendance:- 49,568

Referee:- Daniel Siebert
Assistants:- Jan Seidel & Rafael Foltyn
Fourth official:- Daniel Schlager
VAAR:- Bastian Dankert
Assistant VAR:- Soren Storks
All officials from Germany

Teams:-
Spurs (4-4-1-1):- 1. Vicario; 3. Dragusin (sub 13. Udogie, 66), 17. Romero (Capt.) (sub 4. Danso, 81), 37. Van de Ven, 24. Spence; 23. Pedro Porro (sub 15. Bergvall, 74)14. Gray (sub 22. Gallagher, 81), 29. Sarr, 7. Xavi Simons; 11. Tel (sub 52. Olusesi, 81); 39. Kolo Muani
(Armband to Van de Ven)

Subs not used:- 31. Kinsky, 40. Austin; 76. Rowswell; 57. Kyerematen

Booked:- Pedro Porro (dissent), Vicario (dissent), Romero (foul on Cardoso), Udogie (foul on Le Normand)

Atletico (4-4-2):- 1. Musso; 16. Molina (sub 6. Koke, 64), 24. Le Normand, 17. Hancko, 3. Ruggeri; 20. Simeone (sub 2. Gimenez, 87), 14. Llorente, 5. Cardoso, 22. Lookman (sub 9. Sorloth, 63); 7. Griezmann (Capt.) (sub 10. Alex Baena, 84), 19. Alvarez (sub 23. Gonzalez, 84)
(Koke took armband when he came on)

Subs not used:- 31. Salvi, 33. Mario de Luis; 15. Lenglet, 18. Pubill, 34. Julio Diaz; 11. Almada, 21. Vargas

Booked:- Ruggeri (foul on Pedro Porro), Lookman (foul on Dragusin), Sorloth (foul on Bergvall)

Energy, excitement, entertainment and a win on the night!

Igor Tudor gained his first win with Spurs at the sixth attempt and Spurs entertained and excited the home crowd with a performance containing plenty of energy, desire, and goals! The three-goal deficit from the disastrous first leg was too much to overcome, but such was the effort being put in by our team that there were times when it seemed possible.

Spurs have gained plenty of pride to take into Sunday's crucial game against Nottingham Forest and the remaining Premier League programme.

As seen at Anfield on Sunday, this team is clearly working for their interim coach. They were encouraged and applauded by an enthusiastic home crowd, which was somewhat diminished in numbers.

Thanks to Cassim Patel for this image

Tudor made four changes from the Liverpool line-up. Romero, Van de Ven, Xavi, and Kolo Muani came in for Danso, Souza, Solanke and Richarlison. Richarlison was suspended, following his booking last week and Solanke had a slight knock, but will hopefully be fit for Forest. As promised, Lucas Bergvall and Destiny Udogie were on the bench, and both were used in the second half. Bergvall hadn't been seen for two months. Udogie's been out since early February.

It's great to see players returning from injury. Long may that continue!

There was a morale-boosting interview pre-match with Toby Alderweireld, who played for both sides, of course. Atletico had a full contingent of travelling fans bedecked in their red and blue colours.

Spurs kicked off and played towards the North Stand. You will see various permutations of our formation, but I made it a 4-4-1-1 with Pedro Porro playing in front of right back Dragusin. Both Tel and Xavi had fluid roles behind Kolo Muani and Djed Spence got forward to good effect.

Spurs won an early corner after a lovely move when Xavi passed crossfield to Pedro Porro. There was an early scare when Lookman had the ball in the net at the back post after a cross by Simeone, but the offside flag was raised and confirmed by VAR.

Tel, Xavi, and Spence combined well on the left before Tel hit a right-footed shot on target that was comfortable for goalkeeper Musso, replacing the injured Oblak. Pedro Porro lifted a ball for Kolo Muani, but he couldn't quite get his footing.

After a corner taken by Alvarez, a shot by Llorente was blocked. There was more danger from the visitors, but Spurs were strong enough in defence to resist. Micky van de Ven was putting plenty of effort in back there!

Tel had another shot held by Musso, following a corner and a touch by Dragusin. Tel had a third effort on goal after running into the box on the left side, aiming at the near post bottom corner, bringing another save from Musso and a corner.

Ruggeri got the first booking of the night for fouling Pedro Porro on the right wing. That in itself was not an adventurous kick, but Spurs very soon had the lead after Tel crossed from the right and Kolo Muani headed in at the back post. It was his fourth Champions League goal for Spurs.

Vicario held a shot by Lookman at the other end before Xavi led another attack, feeding the ball to Tel. Tel had players inside but chose to shoot. Musso saved at his right post.

A rocket shot by Alvarez took a touch from Sarr, leading to a corner, from which Simeone hit a shot, deflected by Romero and very well saved by our keeper with a dive to the left. Say what you will about our keeper, but he is a great shot-stopper.

Phil Beal - veteran of two UEFA Cup Finals - was Paul Coyte's half-time guest.

Atletico kicked off and scored too quickly, breaking forward after a Spurs attack with Spurs low on numbers at the back. Lookman passed from the left and Alvarez had the space to fire home in front of his fans with a right-footed shot.

Spurs, of course had been hoping for a second goal before or just after the break, but their heads did not go down. After all, they had nothing to lose.

There was a VAR check regarding this goal. Xavi was on the floor in our half, but the goal stood.

Tel and Spence attacked down the left side but could not quite reach the final pass in the move. No matter, because we were back in the lead on the night with a superb goal by Xavi, hit with his right foot from outside the box inside Musso's left post. The excellent Archie Gray had provided the deft assisting pass.

Lookman was booked for a nasty challenge on Dragusin as he broke forward. Pedro Porro was booked, presumably for arguing too forcefully for more than a yellow. Perhaps he forgot he was not captain tonight! Vicario was also booked.

Pedro Porro had a good shot well saved, after taking Xavi's pass. After the corner, Romero rose at the back to head towards the left post where Dragusin's header was saved.

Vicario saved from Ruggeri at the other end after Lookman's pass, but the offside flag was up anyway. Another Pedro Porro effort was saved by Musso.

Alvarez threatened after winning battles for the ball with both Van de Ven and Spence, but Archie Gray was cool in front of goal and cleared. Vicario tipped an Alvarez shot over the bar. Alvarez took the corner from the left and Hancko scored with a glanced header from in front of the near post. Spurs again needed three goals to level the scores.

What had been refreshing all game was the urgency and desire to get forward and not to ponder over the ball at the back. Vicario reverted to type and gave Spence a difficult task after which Alvarez had a shot blocked.

Thanks to Greg Smith for this image

Callum Olusesi was among our subs and with added time approaching, he fed a short pass to Xavi who was fouled by another sub - Gimenez - as he entered the area. Xavi confidently converted the penalty to give us the win on the night and to send the home crowd home with a smile on their faces.

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