Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

As it happenedended1582151128

Tottenham vs RB Leipzig LIVE: Result and reaction from Champions League fixture tonight

Re-live all the action from the first leg at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Michael Jones
Wednesday 19 February 2020 22:45 GMT
Comments
(Getty)

Support truly
independent journalism

Our mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.

Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.

Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.

Louise Thomas

Louise Thomas

Editor

Tottenham will again have to do it the hard way in the Champions League after they suffered a 1-0 home defeat in the first leg of their last-16 tie with RB Leipzig.

Spurs' run to the final last season was full of great escapes and comeback wins and they will need another after Timo Werner's second-half penalty gave the Bundesliga side a deserved win in their first ever knockout game in this competition.

It also sees 32-year-old Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann, who has been dubbed 'Baby Mourinho' and is a rising star of European football, gain the edge over the man he has been named after.

But Spurs boss Jose Mourinho will claim this was not a fair fight as he was without two of his best attacking players, with the loss Son Heung-min on the eve of the match adding to that of Harry Kane.

The defeat would have been much worse had Hugo Lloris not produced a number of vital saves to keep Leipzig at bay, while Spurs struggled for clear opportunities at the other end.

Giovani Lo Celso had the best of them as his free-kick was turned on to the post, but it was a frustrating night for Mourinho.

Spurs will look to last season's semi-final, where they turned around a similar first-leg defeat to Ajax with a dramatic night in Amsterdam, and there is the sense that something similar will be required in Leipzig on March 10.

While Nagelsmann was enjoying his first taste of knockout football in this competition, this was nothing new for Mourinho.

But rarely will he have gone into such a big game without two such key men as Son and Kane and their absence really set the tone.

Although Spurs' problems were in attack, their frailties at the other end were immediately apparent as Leipzig had three golden chances inside the opening two minutes.

The hosts were sliced open down the right and Nordi Mukiele's cross teed up Werner, but his shot was blocked by Davinson Sanchez.

Then from the rebound Angelino's shot was turned onto the post by the leg of Lloris, who then saved Werner's effort from close range.

Spurs, with no recognised striker on the pitch, were hoping that the pace of Bergwijn and Lucas Moura would be their main weapon and it was the Dutchman who had their best moment of the first half.

The mercurial Lo Celso played him in with a deft touch and, after turning inside, Bergwijn's low shot was palmed away by Peter Gulacsi.

But from then on, it was a succession of missed chances for the visitors as Leipzig found holes in the Spurs defence at will.

Patrick Schick put a header just wide from a corner, Angelino had another effort blocked and Lloris was called into action again to deny Werner with a parried save.

The inevitable eventually happened just before the hour mark.

Werner's chipped ball was met by Konrad Laimer and the Dane was clattered into by Ben Davies, with referee Cuneyt Cakir rightly pointing to the spot.

Werner made no mistake as he drilled into the bottom corner for a crucial away goal.

It should have been even worse for Spurs as Leipzig got in on goal with a slick counter attack, but Lloris came to the rescue with a fine save off Schick.

Mourinho's side had to up the ante and Lo Celso came close to levelling matters in the 72nd minute, but his 25-yard free-kick was tipped onto the post by Gulacsi.

Their big moment came in the 89th minute, but Moura could not deliver as he did in Amsterdam last May.

Davies had space on the left and picked the Brazilian out perfectly, but his header went over the crossbar and it left Spurs with another mountain to climb in this competition.

PA

PREVIEW

What time is Tottenham vs Leipzig?

The match kicks off at 8pm at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

What TV channel is it on?

The match will be shown on BT Sport 2 for UK subscribers. Viewers can also access coverage via the BT Sport App.

Predicted line-ups

Spurs: Lloris, Aurier, Alderweireld, Sanchez, Davies, Lo Celso, Winks, Alli, Bergwijn, Ndombele, Lucas

Leipzig: Gulacsi, Mukiele, Klostermann, Ampadu, Halstenberg, Angelino, Laimer, Sabitzer, Olmo, Nkunku, Werner

Prediction

Tottenham have ground out some good results recently and Jose Mourinho is a master at stifling dangerous attacks in Europe. Expect a cagey contest. 0-0.

1582146652

Tottenham 0 - 0 Leipzig

51 mins: Aurier fouls Schick who receives the ball in space and is allowed to run at the Tottenham box before Aurier, tracking back, takes him out. Leipzig have a 20-yard free kick, just out from goal.

Nkunku takes the free kick and puts it over the bar. 

Michael Jones19 February 2020 21:10
1582146822

Tottenham 0 - 0 Leipzig

54 mins: Tottenham defend a corner pretty well and send the ball up to Moura. Spurs have been more proactive at the start of this half but they're still lacking a touch of creativity when going forward. 

Michael Jones19 February 2020 21:13
1582146907

Tottenham 0 - 0 Leipzig

56 mins: Penalty! Ben Davies brings down Laimer in the box, it's a clear penalty to Leipzig!

Michael Jones19 February 2020 21:15
1582146974

Tottenham 0 - 1 Leipzig - Werner

58 mins: GOAL! Ice cool from Timo Werner as he smashes the ball low into the bottom left corner. Leipzig take a much deserved lead in the game.

Davies picks up a yellow card for the foul. The aerial ball came into the box and Laimer got to it first and brought it down before getting clattered by Davies. It's sloppy from Tottenham and they've been punished for it. 

Michael Jones19 February 2020 21:16
1582147283

Tottenham 0 - 1 Leipzig

60 mins: More for Jose Mourinho to think about. He won't want to lose this game but Tottenham haven't been great int front of goal. 

A pass down the left wing comes to Bergwijn who makes the run in behind the defence. He pulls the ball back to Lo Celso who takes a shot from outside the box that Gulacsi saves!

Michael Jones19 February 2020 21:21
1582147371

Tottenham 0 - 1 Leipzig

63 mins: Tottenham make a double change as Mourinho looks to shake things up. Lamela and Ndombele come on for Gedson Fernandes and Dele Alli. 

Michael Jones19 February 2020 21:22
1582147594

Tottenham 0 - 1 Leipzig

66 mins: Lucas Moura gives away a free kick in Leipzig's half as he desperately tries to win back the ball. Spurs look like they've switched to a back three with two wingbacks. Moura and Bergwijn are up top and Lamela slotting in on the left hand side. 

Michael Jones19 February 2020 21:26
1582147762

Tottenham 0 - 1 Leipzig

69 mins: Spurs look as though they want to be more expansive with this formation but Leipzig are still controlling the flow of the game, especially in midfield. 

Michael Jones19 February 2020 21:29
1582147925

Tottenham 0 - 1 Leipzig

 72 mins: Lo Celso receives the ball on the edge of the Leipzig box and he is pulled back by Nkunku who is shown a yellow card.

Spurs hve a free kick in a dangerous area, about 25 yards out. Lo Celso drills it to the far corner and Gulacsi gets a fingertip on the shot to touch it onto the post and out for a corner. 

Michael Jones19 February 2020 21:32
1582148061

Tottenham 0 - 1 Leipzig

75 mins: Finally Spurs look alive in the match. They cause a couple of problems with the corner and win back the ball quickly. The fans are urging the players forward. Erik Lamela has had a positive impact since coming onto the pitch. 

He puts a big tackle in on Sabitzer and then makes a run in behind the defence but is judged to be offside. 

Michael Jones19 February 2020 21:34

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in