Tottenham Hotspur secured a crucial Champions League victory with a dominant performance against Slavia Prague, bouncing back from their 5-3 defeat at Paris Saint-Germain and building on a morale-boosting Premier League win against Brentford.

Under the guidance of manager Thomas Frank, Spurs showcased resilience and attacking intent, earning vital points as they look to progress from the group stage.

Early Breakthrough: Zima Own Goal Gives Spurs Advantage

The opening goal came after 26 minutes, albeit in fortuitous circumstances. Slavia Prague defender David Zima misjudged a flick from Cristian Romero off Pedro Porro’s corner, inadvertently heading the ball past his own goalkeeper Jindrich Stanek. Despite the unusual nature of the opener, Spurs had been creating pressure and fully deserved to take the lead.

Slavia had their moments, with Guglielmo Vicario making a superb save from Youssoupha Sanyang, who then became indirectly involved in Spurs’ second goal. Five minutes after the break, Sanyang’s reckless challenge on Porro resulted in a penalty, which Mohammed Kudus calmly converted for his first Champions League goal for Tottenham.

The visitors were further punished in the 79th minute when Xavi Simons scored from another penalty after being fouled by Igoh Ogbu, sealing a 3-0 victory and underscoring Spurs’ dominance.

Spurs Analysis: Positive Momentum Under Thomas Frank

The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was buzzing before kick-off as fans welcomed back Son Heung-min, who returned to address the crowd following his transfer to Los Angeles FC in the summer. Son, who scored 173 goals in 454 games and captained Spurs to a Europa League victory against Manchester United, received a rapturous reception, creating the perfect atmosphere for Spurs’ emphatic win.

Early chances for Spurs included a near-goal from Richarlison, who was denied by a stunning reaction save from Stanek. Despite the opener coming from an own goal, Spurs’ attacking intent and defensive solidity meant they controlled the majority of the match. Stanek continued to impress with key saves, particularly a double save from substitutes Mathys Tel and Pape Sarr, preventing the scoreline from being even more emphatic.

Key Performances

• Xavi Simons was named Player of the Match with an average rating of 8.10, reflecting his influence on both goals and overall play.
• Mohammed Kudus (7.98) impressed with his penalty finish and attacking contributions.
• Cristian Romero (7.37) and Djed Spence (7.51) anchored the defense effectively.
• The only negative for Spurs was a yellow card for Micky van de Ven, ruling him out of their next Champions League match against Borussia Dortmund.

Champions League Implications

With this victory, Spurs move closer to securing a top-eight finish in the group stage and avoiding the play-off round en route to the last 16. Currently sitting ninth in the standings, Spurs are just a point behind five teams tied on 12 points, meaning every remaining fixture is crucial.

Slavia Prague, on the other hand, have only three points and will need to win both remaining games, starting with Barcelona, to have any chance of advancing from the group.

Looking Ahead

This result provides Spurs with much-needed confidence and momentum as they aim to consolidate their position in Champions League group F. Under Thomas Frank, the team has shown improvement in consistency, combining attacking prowess, defensive organization, and tactical discipline.

If Spurs maintain this form, the club could make a serious push for the last 16, keeping fans optimistic about a deep European run this season.