Randal Kolo Muani was lucky to be on the field. The Tottenham striker had suffered a moment of indescribable panic when the front right tyre on his Ferrari blew out on the motorway on Tuesday as he drove to Stansted airport for the team flight to Frankfurt.
The car was a write-off but Kolo Muani walked away from it. He had to take a later flight to make this Champions League game and he was plainly determined to make his mark on it.
Kolo Muani was once a hero to the Eintracht fans, scoring prolifically for them in the 2022-23 season. They were not happy to see him back and booed his every touch. The best one was that with which he broke the deadlock just after half-time to set Spurs fair for another win in this competition and a fast track to the last 16.
Thomas Frank left his domestic troubles in London. The under-fire manager can reflect with pride at his team’s performances in Europe – even if Frankfurt were dismally off-colour. They are in crisis after a run of poor form saw them sack their manager, Dino Toppmöller. Things have not improved under the interim Dennis Schmitt. Eintracht already knew they had no chance of qualifying for the playoff round. They played like it. The difference in physical terms between the teams was stark.
