Safety could also be underneath scrutiny within the French capital after the Paris jewel heist, however Tottenham made it out of the Principality of Monaco with one other treasured Champions League level within the stash bag.
It was a feat largely right down to Guglielmo Vicario, the goalkeeper who produced a wonderful collection of saves because the hosts peppered his objective with 23 pictures, the perfect of them late within the sport from Jordan Teze. Maybe they will get him a job on the Louvre.
Thomas Frank’s aspect had been removed from fluent and created little. They labored onerous to guard their clear sheet, nonetheless, stay unbeaten away from dwelling this season and have 5 factors from their first three video games, two of them away from dwelling.
This was their first goalless attract 125 video games since March 2023 in opposition to AC Milan and a Champions League exit within the final 16 underneath Antonio Conte.
Day by day Mail Sport’s MATT BARLOW was on the Stade Louis II to run the rule over Spurs.
Tottenham produced a sub-par show however earned some extent with a goalless draw at Monaco
Guglielmo Vicario was Tottenham’s greatest participant – with the goalkeeper making a string of saves
Midfield enigma
Having pleaded pre match for endurance with Xavi Simons, Spurs boss Thomas Frank opted to begin with out his £52million summer season signing and recalled Lucas Bergvall as he gave his midfield form a bit tweak.
Frank began with with Palhinha because the deepest of the trio, flanked to the correct by Rodrigo Bentancur and the left by Bergvall, who has shortly develop into a favorite with the followers, however does have a behavior of taking dangers on the ball in defensive areas.
The Swedish teenager was caught out on the sting of his personal penalty space as Monaco made a robust begin to the sport. Guglielmo Vicario got here to the rescue with the primary of three first-half saves to disclaim former Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun.
Vicario has are available in for criticism since his return from the damaged ankle suffered final yr, however right here he stood up manfully to the stress. He pissed off Balogun by way of the early exchanges and scrambled again to clear a miscued cross from Maghnes Akliouche which was drifting over his head and appeared set to drop contained in the far publish.
Halfway by way of the primary half, in a bid to determine a foothold within the contest, Frank realigned his midfield trio. He pulled Bentancur barely deeper, in alongside Palhinha and launched Bergvall as extra of an orthodox No 10 giving his group extra of a 4-2-3-1 form than the 4-3-3 they began with, however Monaco continued to dominate.
Thomas Frank’s tactical tweaks did not arrest the slide in Monaco because the hosts continued on prime
Artistic quest
Richarlison was again up entrance, changing Mathys Tel who has not been chosen for his or her UEFA Champions League squad. Spurs had been with out 10 senior gamers by way of a mix to a lengthening harm checklist and people not obtainable as a result of Spurs has didn’t plan correctly to maximise their quotas.
The Brazilian had scored just one in 10 in membership colors since two in opposition to Burnley on the opening day of the season and was feeding off scraps within the first half. Tottenham discovered it troublesome to play by way of their hosts.
One sharp likelihood got here Richarlison’s manner, accumulating a cross from Wilson Odobert as he eased onto his left foot, however Monaco defenders had been fast to crowd him out earlier than he may shoot.
Odobert seemed vivid with the solidity of Archie Grey behind him at left again. Grey’s alternatives have been restricted underneath Frank however he made his typical clever contribution, making good defensive selections and supporting his winger in assault.
Frank’s group discovered it troublesome to include Akliouche who brought about issues within the space between Micky van de Ven, the left-sided centre-half and Grey.
Tottenham’s important attacking risk got here from set items, together with Kevin Danso’s lengthy throws, and after they managed to maintain Monaco pinned into their very own defensive third after a set piece. Danso and Micky van de Ven had been additionally a risk within the air.
Richarlison began up entrance for Tottenham however endured one other fruitless efficiency in assault
Incremental progress…
Monaco held Manchester Metropolis to a draw final month, though a lot has occurred since. They’ve slipped to seventh within the French league and adjusted head coaches, with former West Bromwich Albion left again Sebastien Pocognoli, who gained the Belgian title with Union Saint Gilloise, introduced in to switch Adi Hutter.
Pocognoli began with a draw at Angers on Saturday and can be livid his group didn’t discover a objective in opposition to Spurs. Vicario was impressed within the Tottenham however there have been sufficient probabilities for the house aspect. Takumi Minamino squandered a flurry of them after approaching.
Frank will mirror on the energy of the defensive show however should finetune the steadiness of his group. The Champions League tie is at dwelling in opposition to Copenhagen earlier than they journey to face champions Paris Saint-Germain, who scored seven at Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday.
Spurs held them within the Tremendous Cup however PSG are purring once more and that guarantees to be a radical take a look at of their defensive mettle. It can assist if they will beat Copenhagen at dwelling and go to France with eight factors on the board.
