There has been the feeling at too many points of this traumatic season for Tottenham that they only play when the result is beyond them. This Champions League last-16 tie looked that way when Atlético Madrid went 4-0 up after 22 minutes of the first leg last Tuesday and nobody gave Spurs a prayer of overturning the final scoreline from the Metropolitano of 5-2.
They played here. It was a strange evening because there were times when the hope did crackle. Spurs had massive chances for a two-goal lead on the night. Mathys Tel at 1-0 towards the end of the first half; Pedro Porro at 2-1 on the hour. There was another in stoppage time for Randal Kolo Muani at 3-2. It was surely too late by then. All of them went begging.
The idea for the beleaguered Igor Tudor and his players was to build on the positive vibes of Sunday’s 1-1 Premier League draw at Liverpool. The more important game of the week will be here on Sunday against Nottingham Forest. As crazy as that sounds given Spurs had only contested nine previous Champions League knockout fixtures. Staying in England’s top division is the be-all and end-all.
Spurs could feel their fragile confidence pepped. There were goals for Kolo Muani and a pair for Xavi Simons, including a late winner on the night from the penalty spot. Atlético, serial participants in the knockout rounds of this competition, were never truly in danger. Julián Alvarez was outstanding, scoring his team’s first for 1-1 and setting up a second equaliser for David Hancko. There were positives for Spurs.
