Tottenham vs Leipzig: Five things we learned as Timo Werner goal wins tense first leg

Leipzig deservedly beat Spurs to seize the initiative in this Champions League tie

(AFP via Getty)

Tottenham Hotspur could have few complaints after losing 1-0 at home to RB Leipzig in the first leg of their Champions League knockout tie.

Leipzig impressed in a goalless first half, rumoured Liverpool target Timo Werner squandering the best of a series of clear-cut chances.

Werner made amends from the penalty spot in the second, after Ben Davies felled Konrad Laimer.

Giovani Lo Celso hit the post with a sweetly struck free-kick as Spurs chased an equaliser but Leipzig held out for a relatively comfortable win.

Here are five things we learned from tonight’s game.

Ampadu is up to the challenge

Ethan Ampadu has had to be patient since joining Leipzig on a season-long loan last summer. The Chelsea loanee is yet to start a Bundesliga game, and Wales boss Ryan Giggs has been vocal about his lack of gametime with EURO 2020 on the horizon.

Ampadu had a fine game (Getty)

Injury and suspension forced Julian Nagelsmann’s hand against Spurs, and Ampadu was positioned at the very heart of Leipzig’s three-man back line. The Welsh teenager generally coped well with whatever Tottenham threw at him, and looked very composed in possession for a man starved of minutes this season.

As the game progressed, the 19-year-old spread perfectly-weighted balls out to the Leipzig flank with ease. His confidence seemed to increase throughout, and he vocally called for the ball when in space. Those were encouraging signs for any fans of Wales, or indeed Chelsea, watching on.

Toothless Spurs could struggle without Son

Spurs have managed to cope admirably in Harry Kane’s absence, scoring two goals or more in five of their last seven games before this. On tonight’s evidence, the additional loss of Son Heung-min might prove fatal.

Spurs lacked a cutting edge (Getty)

Lucas Moura, Son and Steven Bergwijn had formed a roving front three blessed with pace, but the loss of the most direct and ruthless point of that trident showed as Peter Gulacsi went fairly untroubled in the Leipzig goal.

Dele Alli in effect played as part of a front two with Moura, but his comparative lack of threat in behind was evident, particularly as Spurs looked to play on the counter so much, and he was visibly frustrated when subbed off in the 64th minute. Jose Mourinho doesn’t have many options to turn to either, with 18-year-old Troy Parrott the only available out-and-out striker in his squad.

Mourinho’s old ways fail when faced with new challenge

For a manager who cemented his reputation with tactical masterclasses and improbable clean sheets against some of the best club sides in history, Mourinho’s plan tonight was woefully executed. His Spurs side sat off Leipzig in possession in near enough a flat 4-4-2 but neither threatened on the counter, nor managed to close out space effectively defensively as Leipzig fashioned several well-worked chances.

When will Mourinho update his tactics? (Reuters)

Mourinho has been bullish about having nothing to prove based on his trophy-laden CV, but Nagelsmann seemed like the more relevant coach in the present this evening. Mourinho being outshone by a 32-year-old coach with a possession-hungry, attack-minded and high intensity style isn’t necessarily surprising, but the result remains a damning indictment on a manager who has always prioritised pragmatism over idealism.

Leipzig had a clear pattern of play in attack, whereas Spurs’ efforts looked like a series of individuals making decisions in real-time.

Bergwijn offers hope even as Fernandes falters

On a difficult night for Spurs, Bergwijn was a rare positive. Mourinho’s side looked dangerous whenever the Dutchman was in possession, and the 22-year-old never looked overawed on his first Champions League appearance for Spurs.

Bergwijn is a promising player (PA)

Most of Leipzig’s joy came down Spurs’ right-hand side too, as Bergwijn put in a complete performance. The winger showed pace, strength and an eye for goal – even in a fairly disjointed Spurs attack.

Alongside Giovani Lo Celso, Berwijn has already established himself as one of Spurs’ main creative outlets despite still being in the infancy of his time at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The less said about fellow January signing Gedson Fernandes, dragged off mid-way through the second half, the better.

Reality bites for English clubs in Europe

Last year’s European campaign was characterised by English dominance. Spurs and Liverpool jousted in the Champions League final, and Arsenal and Chelsea faced off in the Europa League.

It has not been a vintage week for English clubs in Europe (Getty)

The Premier League has rightly or wrongly come under fire for a lack of quality this year. Liverpool are 22 points clear at the top but lost their first leg against Atletico, who are fourth in La Liga. Leipzig looked more than a class above Spurs for most of their tie and will be clear favourites to progress to the quarter-finals when the two play their return leg in March. Their impressive style and surgically recruited squad felt emblematic as they overcame a confused Spurs side littered with expensive misfires.

With a distracted Man City and hopelessly out-of-form Chelsea facing off against Real Madrid and Bayern Munich respectively next week, we could realistically see a last eight without a single English representative. That would be a dramatic reversal of last year’s trend, and a cause for concern for Premier League chiefs.