Tottenham vs Qarabag LIVE: Europa League result and final score as 10-man Spurs win chaotic contest
Tottenham 3-0 Qarabag: Brennan Johnson, Pape Matar Saar and Dominic Solanke were on target despite Spurs playing almost the whole match with 10 men
Tottenham Hotspur opened their Europa League campaign with an entertaining 3-0 win over Qarabag despite playing the majority of the match down to 10 men after Radu Dragusin’s early red card. Brennan Johnson, Pape Matar Saar and Dominic Solanke were on target as Qarabag missed several chances, as well as a second-half penalty, in a chaotic contest.
Kick-off in north London was delayed by almost 40 minutes with visitors Qarabag arriving late to the ground due to traffic in the capital. Spurs then made a sloppy start, with Dragusin sent off in the seventh minute after hauling down Juninho when he lost control of the ball on the half-way line.
But the response from Ange Postecoglou’s side was impressive. Johnson fired his third goal in as many games five minutes after Dragusin’s red card following Solanke’s pass. Tottenham made it safely to half time despite Qarabag threatening an equaliser, and then doubled their lead after the break when Saar volleyed in from a corner.
Qarabag had a golden opportunity to pull one back from the penalty spot but Toral Bayramov blasted it over the bar and Solanke punished the visitors when he tucked in a rebound soon after for Tottenham’s third. The only concern for Postecoglou was the sight of Son Heung-min limping off ahead of Sunday’s trip to Manchester United in the Premier League.
Follow live updates from Tottenham vs Qarabag in our live blog below
Breaking: Kick-off to Tottenham vs Qarabag delayed
Kick-off at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has been delayed due to “severe travel disruption”.
Trains have been impacted by poor weather in the capital.
Tonight’s visitors Qarabag have been unable to arrive at the stadium ahead of kick-off.
Kick off for tonight’s fixture has been delayed due to severe travel disruption. Further information to follow. pic.twitter.com/QJbslg2zgF
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) September 26, 2024
Son Heung-min reacts to alleged racist remark from Spurs teammate Rodrigo Bentancur
Tottenham captain Son Heung-min has expressed his “love” for team-mate Rodrigo Bentancur, despite the Uruguay midfielder making an alleged racist remark about the South Korean over the summer.
The former Juventus player was charged last Thursday with an alleged misconduct breach by the Football Association in relation to a media interview.
In the clip, which emerged in June, the host of a Canal 10 show asked Bentancur to show the shirt of a Spurs player, with the 27-year-old allegedly replying: “Sonny’s? It could be Sonny’s cousin too as they all look the same.”
While an apology from Bentancur was swiftly forthcoming, due to this being an “aggravated breach”, if an independent regulatory commission panel upholds the FA charge, he could be suspended for six to 12 domestic matches.
Son reacts to alleged racist remark from Spurs teammate Bentancur
The Uruguay midfielder could be handed a suspension of six to 12 matches if an FA charge for his alleged racist comment is upheld.
‘We’re not robots’: Son Heung-min on fixture schedule
Son Heung-min on fixture schedule:
“You don’t want to see players struggling with injuries. No one wants to see it. A lot of games, a lot of travelling. We’ve got to look after ourselves, which sometimes is very hard.
“Mentally, physically, you’re not ready. Then going on to the pitch and then the risk of injury is massive. We’re not robots. Don’t get me wrong, we love playing football. That’s clear.
“It’s about adding more games. City played Sunday and Tuesday and it wasn’t even flexible. It could be moved probably to play Wednesday instead of Tuesday. It’s not flexible. That’s what we’re talking about.
“It’s normal that everyone is at high risk of injury. It’s not fair. Rodri said the right things. We play 50, 60 games and not more than 70 games. When the fixtures come, the players have to play. There’s a lot going on.”
Team news! Tottenham vs Qarabag
Ange Postecoglou goes strong! There are starts for Son Heung-min and Micky van de Venn, as well as appearances for Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall. Exciting team? It’s six changes from the Brentford game but the same front three.
Spurs XI: Vicario; Gray, Dragusin, Van de Ven, Davies; Bissouma, Sarr, Bergvall; Johnson, Solanke, Son
Qarabag FK: Kochalski, Matheus Silva, Mustafazade, Bayramov, Badavi Huseynov, Cafarquliyev, Benzia, Patrick Andrade, Romao, Zoubir, Juninho
Ange Postecoglou and Son Heung-min call for changes to football calendar
Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou and captain Son Heung-min have both insisted the growing football schedule must be addressed.
Spurs begin their Europa League campaign on Thursday at home to Qarabag and the initial phase of the competition has been extended to eight games instead of six, which is also the same for the Champions League.
Manchester City midfielder Rodri suggested last week that players could strike over the increasing fixture congestion before days later he suffered a serious knee injury.
“They may take things into their own hands. They’re the ones most affected to be honest, so you would understand if they started to think as a collective, how much are we going to have to continually not have a say in?” Postecoglou explained.
Ange Postecoglou and Son Heung-min call for changes to football calendar
UEFA this season increased the initial phase of the Champions League and Europa League from six games to eight.
Tottenham’s Europa League fixtures
Sep 26: vs Qarabag (H)
Oct 3: vs Ferencvaros (A)
Oct 24: vs AZ (H)
Nov 7: vs Galtasaray (A)
Nov 28: vs Roma (H)
Dec 12: vs Rangers (A)
Jan 23: vs Hoffenheim (A)
Jan 30: vs Elfsbrog (H)
Tottenham’s recent record in Europe
2024-25: Europa League, under Ange Postecoglou
TBD
2023-24: No competition
2022-23: Champions League, under Antonio Conte
Round of 16: lost 1-0 to Milan
2021-22: Conference League, under Nuno Espirito Santo and then Antonio Conte
Group stage: Knocked out after Rennes match was called off
2020-21: Europa League, under Jose Mourinho
Round of 16: Lost 3-2 on aggregate to Dinamo Zagreb
2019-20: Champions League, under Maurcio Pochettino and then Jose Mourinho
Round of 16: Lost 4-0 on aggregate to RB Leipzig
Tottenham return to Europa League
Thursday night football returns to Tottenham. This is the club’s first Europa League season since under Jose Mourinho in 2020-21, where they reached the round of 16 before blowing a 2-0 lead in the first leg and losing to Dinamo Zagreb.
That just about sums out Tottenham’s adventures in Europe over the last five years, or since reaching the Champions League final under Mauricio Pochettino. Neither Mourinho nor Antonio Conte could do what Pochettino managed and get Spurs into a European final.
So how about Ange Postecoglou?
What is the Tottenham team news?
Cristian Romero is suspended for Spurs, with Ange Postecoglou likely to rotate elsewhere. Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall should get another chance to impress, while teenager Mikey Moore may also receive an opportunity with Wilson Odobert injured. Djed Spence and Sergio Reguilon were left out of the Tottenham squad for this competition.
When is Tottenham vs Qarabag?
Tottenham vs Qarabag is due to kick off at 8pm BST on Thursday 26 September at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
How can I watch it?
Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on TNT Sports 1, with coverage on the channel from 7pm BST. Subscribers can stream the action via discovery+.
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