Leipzig vs Tottenham result: Five things we learned as Spurs are knocked out of Champions League

Six games without a win now for Spurs

Tottenham exited the Champions League in woefully timid fashion on Wednesday, losing 3-0 to Leipzig on the night and 4-0 on aggregate.

Marcel Sabitzer smashed in the opening goal on 10 minutes, but Hugo Lloris might have done better with the effort from the edge of the box.

The exact same could be said for the second goal on 21, except it was Sabitzer with a near-post header this time. In between, Timo Werner had a strike ruled out for offside as Spurs failed utterly to contain the German side.

Spurs threatened only intermittently, and usually from range, as their opponents easily strolled through to the last eight with sub Emil Forsberg adding a late third.

Here are five things we learned from another disappointing night for Jose Mourinho‘s side.

Lloris questionable at best, culpable at worst

Two goals in little more than 20 minutes essentially put paid to any hopes Spurs had of mounting a comeback and captain Lloris could certainly have done more to prevent the poor start.

A low effort from Austrian midfielder Sabitzer saw the Spurs ‘keeper reach the ball, but his right wrist was unable to withstand the power of the effort – which was not exactly fearsomely struck.

At the same post soon after, Lloris couldn’t keep out Sabitzer’s header, only clawing at the ball after it had already crossed the line after again getting a weak hand to touch the ball against the post.

While blame won’t outright fall on Lloris for conceding both – and rightly so given how open the defence was in the build-up – there was absolutely more he could have done to prevent the game switfly moving out of reach.

No attack doesn’t excuse no defence

Mourinho has made much of the fact that his team is without forwards at present, and he’s correct to do so.

Without Harry Kane and Son Heung-min, his team are blunted in attack and reliant on those performing out of their natural roles – but in that case, the emphasis should be even more on having a solid set-up which doesn’t gift scoring opportunities.

In this game, as in so many other recent ones, Spurs fell woefully short.

Leipzig had four good openings in the first 45 minutes alone, three of which saw the ball end in the net including Werner’s offside finish, and by that time the tie was out of reach.

The midfield isn’t well-balanced, the back three seem to operate individually rather than in unison and there was a stark difference, on and off the ball, between the two teams’ pairs of wing-backs.

Prem-linked Leipzig players shine

Marcel Sabitzer struck twice early on in Leipzig (AFP via Getty Images)

Accounting for domestic media naturally focusing on home-based clubs, this Leipzig team have a number of players who have links, either past or potentially future, with Premier League teams.

Timo Werner is the biggest draw in those terms, and while the forward was lively, involved and always a threat, he wasn’t the biggest difference between the teams on this occasion.

Rather, Arsenal- and Chelsea-linked centre-back Dayot Upamecano was a pillar of strength in the defensive line, while Angelino – on loan from Man City – was a brilliant outlet at left wing-back all night.

And since Lloris’ lack of authority was on show at one end, it’s perhaps right to note the opposite performance was given by Peter Gulacsi, the Hungarian goalkeeper once on the books of Liverpool.

Missed opportunities?

Spurs have injuries, absences and players out of form, so by necessity as much as design, Mourinho made changes again.

Eric Dier was handed another chance at centre-back, Giovani Lo Celso returned to midfield and Ryan Sessegnon was given the opportunity to play the role which arguably suits him best at this stage, left wing-back.

Only Lo Celso really produced a notably positive performance, along with regular starter Dele Alli and perhaps Japhet Tanganga, who was dominant in his individual duals in the back line for the most part.

Mourinho might have spoken against midfielder Tanguy Ndombele recently, being unimpressed with his off-the-ball work against Burnley, but there were several others here who also failed to seize the chance presented to them.

Few can complain if they are taken out of the lineup at the weekend.

Finalists last year, onlookers next year?

Out of Europe for 2019/20, Spurs’ Champions League hopes for next season rest on finishing in the qualifying places in the Premier League.

At present, a run of one point taken from their last three matches leaves them facing another uphill task domestically, too; Spurs are eighth, a massive seven points off Chelsea in fourth, and face a resurgent Manchester United next.

The silver lining in all this might just be Man City’s ban on European action, leaving the chasing pack fighting for fifth place as well – meaning even more importance on that next domestic fixture.

Recent form doesn’t suggest they’ll be capable of troubling Mourinho’s old team, unless the Portuguese boss can fashion one of his old tactical masterplans for which he became famed so long ago, but which haven’t really been on show yet at his latest club.