London Evening Standard

North Londoners escaped with a draw in a tricky test

AFP via Getty Images

Matt Verri

COMMENTS

Your matchday briefing on Tottenham, featuring team news and expert analysis from Matt Verri

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

Tottenham were fortunate to come away with a point after a 0-0 draw with Monaco in the Champions League.

Thomas Frank’s side were second-best throughout and could easily have conceded three or four goals, were it not for a string of superb saves from Guglielmo Vicario and some poor Monaco finishing.

It leaves Spurs unbeaten from their three European matches this season, picking up five points, but they are yet to produce a convincing performance.

Here’s how Standard Sport rated the Spurs players...

Guglielmo Vicario 9

Single-handedly earned Spurs a point. Sensational performance to save Spurs in the first half. Stunning stops denied Folarin Balogun on more than one occasion and looked much more confident with crosses. Eight saves in all.

Pedro Porro 5

Delivery really poor, particularly from set-pieces. Wasted one free-kick in a dangerous position when shooting straight into the wall and floated another straight out of play. Not great defensively either.

Kevin Danso 6

Couple of loose moments on the ball to remind everyone just how much Spurs need Cristian Romero fit. Big chance from corner in the first half was headed over.

Read More

Liverpool knock five past sorry Frankfurt in Champions League rout

Three things we learned from Tottenham draw as Spurs toothless up top

Chelsea ratings: Estevao superb as Guiu shines in Blues demolition job

Sponsored

Running a business: 5 expenses you might be overlooking

Micky van de Ven 8

Dominated his battle with Balogun when left one-on-one with the striker - too strong and too quick. Led the defence well with the captain’s armband.

Archie Gray 7

Superb start to the match when holding things together almost single-handedly from left-back. Overrun at times down that wing but overall impressive out of position.

Impressive: Archie Gray

AFP via Getty Images

Joao Palhinha 7

Hoovered up in midfield as ever, pouncing on loose balls with several firm challenges. One of the first names on the team sheet - question is who plays alongside him.

Rodrigo Bentancur 5

Passing is too safe and didn’t offer much midfield security either, with Maghnes Akliouche regularly finding space. Enough evidence that partnership with Palhinha hampered Spurs’ creativity.

Mohammed Kudus 7

Attack relies on him so much. Not quite at his best but still looked dangerous and most threatening moments came from his crosses. Spurs can be too reliant on him sometimes, even when he’s isolated.

Lucas Bergvall 5

Failed to take chance at No10. Not found often enough but sloppy on the ball when he did have it. Usual drive was lacking in a frustrating display.

Wilson Odobert 8

Confidence is visibly growing. Bright and direct with the ball and decision-making was better than it has been, playing Richarlison in after one superb run. Deserves to keep his place but went off with a rib issue.

Injury worry: Wilson Odobert

AFP via Getty Images

Richarlison 4

Poor display on his returning to the starting lineup. Didn’t hold the ball up well enough and too slow to get shot away in first half in what proved to be his only chance. Spurs need Dominic Solanke back.

Substitutes

Xavi Simons (Bergvall 60’) 4

Needs to be braver. Ruined one dangerous counter when strangely turning back and then playing poor pass.

Pape Matar Sarr (Bentancur 60’) 6

Strong burst got him in behind late on and he squared for Johnson. As dangerous as Spurs looked from open play.

Randal Kolo Muani (Richarlison 69’) 6

Held the ball up better than Richarlison. Still building fitness but could soon be leading the line.

Brennan Johnson (Odobert 69’) 4

Easy to forget he was on the pitch until his chance in the closing stages which he scuffed.

Djed Spence (Kudus 79’) N/A

MORE ABOUT

Thomas Frank’s side failed to muster any real chances

Disappointed: Archie Gray

AFP via Getty Images

Matt Verri

COMMENTS

Your matchday briefing on Tottenham, featuring team news and expert analysis from Matt Verri

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

It all felt painfully familiar as Tottenham toiled and somehow avoided defeat.

Once again the argument can be made that it was a positive result considering the performance, particularly away from home in the Champions League.

There are only so many times, though, that poor displays can be glossed over and a 0-0 draw with Monaco built on the same themes.

Spurs do not do enough offensively from open play and the midfield set-up is a significant contributing factor. Thomas Frank’s side could not progress the ball forward and were regularly ran through by an energetic Monaco team.

Spurs have had the least goals across their three Champions League matches out of any of the 36 teams in the competition. This was another tough watch.

Toothless Spurs fortunate

A run of 125 matches without a goalless draw has come to an end for Spurs.

This was another worrying display in a attack, against a side in Monaco who had not kept a clean sheet all season.

Spurs offered next to nothing in open play, their best chances coming from headers from their two centre-backs until Brennan Johnson wasted a late opportunity on the counter.

Again there is evidence that the midfield partnership of Joao Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur leaves Spurs too short creatively and on another day they could have lost this match by three or four goals.

Read More

Liverpool knock five past sorry Frankfurt in Champions League rout

Chelsea ratings: Estevao superb as Guiu shines in Blues demolition job

Eintracht Frankfurt vs Liverpool LIVE: Latest score and updates from Champions League

Sponsored

Make your next holiday a luxury destination in the magical Maldives

As was the case in their last European match against Bodo/Glimt, this was a point that Tottenham did not deserve. They are unbeaten in the Champions League with five points but there are major concerns over the performances.

They sit 15th in the table and still have to face PSG and Borussia Dortmund - much more is needed.

Superb Vicario answers questions

That Spurs left Monaco with even a point was down almost entirely to Vicario, who made eight saves in a superb performance.

In the first half, with his defence parting in front of him, Vicario made two sensational stops to deny Folarin Balogun. The heroics continued after the break, pushing Aleksandr Golovin's curling strike to safety.

Vicario was also more secure with balls into the box and claimed crosses with confidence when required.

There have been questions from some Spurs fans in recent weeks, questioning the Italian's positioning among other things and calling for Antonin Kinsky to be given a run of games.

This, though, was a firm answer from Vicario that he should remain firmly in possession of the shirt.

Gray back to utility role

Archie Gray spent much of his first season at Tottenham being pulled around the starting lineup, plugging holes across the pitch as injuries appeared.

Frank has insisted this season he sees Gray as a midfielder rather than someone to use in defence, and opted for Palhinha at centre-back against Doncaster in the Carabao Cup to allow Gray to play in his more natural position.

Here, though, it was left-back duty for the teenager and he stepped up impressively to offer a reminder of just how useful he is to have in the squad.

Gray was Spurs' best defender in the early stages, producing a great challenge to halt Krepin Diatta's progress and then positioning himself perfectly to cut out Ansu Fati's pass and deny Monaco a tap-in.

With Destiny Udogie, Ben Davies and Cristian Romero among the defensive absentees right now, Gray’s versatility is crucial for Frank.

He slotted back into midfield late on when Djed Spence was brought on and with Spurs yet to find the right balance in the middle of the pitch, there is an argument he deserves an opportunity there.

Whenever and wherever he has been called upon this season, Gray has stepped up.

MORE ABOUT

Baby P's mother Tracey Connelly says 'I was a crap mum' as she makes fresh bid for jail release

Baby P's mother says 'I was crap mum' as she bids for release

The centre-back pulled out of the warm-up against Aston Villa on Sunday with an adductor issue and was replaced in the starting line-up by Kevin Danso, as he is again here.

Although Thomas Frank insisted it was not a serious problem, Romero did not train with the Spurs squad on Tuesday and has not travelled for his side's latest Champions League test.

"It's an adductor strain,” Frank said at his pre-match press conference. “We will assess it more this week before we confirm any timeframe."

Destiny Udogie will also miss the match and he has been replaced by Archie Gray in the back four, with Djed Spence, the natural replacement, dropping to the bench.

”The latest is that he got that knee irritation after international duty,” the Spurs boss said.

“We are assessing and working very hard to get on top of it. We'll know more day by day."

Mathys Tel has led the line in the last two matches, but he is not in Spurs' squad for the league phase of the Champions League and so Richarlison returns to the starting line-up.

Baby P's mother Tracey Connelly says 'I was a crap mum' as she makes fresh bid for jail release

Baby P's mother says 'I was crap mum' as she bids for release

Tottenham travel to Monaco on matchday three of the Champions League league stage this evening, and Thomas Frank’s side will be hoping to record a win after salvaging a last-minute draw in their most recent outing. Spurs were held to a 2-2 draw by Bodo/Glimt in the Arctic Circle last time out, when Micky Van de Ven and Jostein Gundersen’s own goal hauled them back level from 2-0 down after Jens Petter Hauge’s brace.

The north Londoners are still unbeaten on the continent this term having defeated Villarreal in their opening game 1-0 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. They face a Monaco side that stole a draw in the dying embers against Manchester City on matchday two, as former Tottenham defender Eric Dier tucked away a penalty in injury time.

The Ligue 1 outfit are under new management, with Sebastien Pocognoli (yes, formerly of West Brom) at the helm after Adi Hutter was sacked. They are seventh in the French top flight table. This should be a thrilling encounter, and you can follow all the updates with our live blog below!

The centre-back pulled out of the warm-up against Aston Villa on Sunday with an adductor issue and was replaced in the starting line-up by Kevin Danso.

Although Thomas Frank insisted it was not a serious problem, Romero did not train with the Spurs squad on Tuesday and has not travelled for his side's latest Champions League test.

"It's an adductor strain,” Frank said at his pre-match press conference. “We will assess it more this week before we confirm any timeframe."

Destiny Udogie will also miss the match and, unless he shifts players out of position, it means Frank has no choice but to start the same back four again.

”The latest is that he got that knee irritation after international duty,” the Spurs boss said.

“We are assessing and working very hard to get on top of it. We'll know more day by day."

There could be a reshuffle in midfield after the struggles against Villa. Lucas Bergvall and Pape Matar Sarr have both had limited involvement recently but would add some energy and drive to the middle of the pitch.

Further forward, Xavi Simons has not hit the heights expected of him at No10 and there could be a temptation for Frank to try something different and move him out to the left where he made his first Spurs appearances.

Mathys Tel has led the line in the last two matches, but he is not in Spurs' squad for the league phase of the Champions League and so Richarlison is expected to return to the starting line-up.

Spurs took an early lead over Aston Villa only to fall to a 2-1 defeat - their first in eight games across all competitions - and raise more questions about the club’s ability to build in attack.

Such fralities were on show the last time Spurs were in Champions League action, as they escaped Bodo/Glimt with an entirely undeserved 2-2 draw. That came after an unconvincing 1-0 win over Villarreal in their first League Phase game.

Monaco are also struggling and welcome Spurs amid a four-game winless streak, though that run includes a 2-2 draw with Manchester City.

Monaco vs Tottenham is scheduled for an 8pm BST kick-off on Wednesday, October 22, 2025.

TV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on TNT Sports 3, with coverage starting at 7pm BST.

Live stream: TNT Sports subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the Discovery+ app and website.

Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie, who withdrew ahead of the loss to Aston Villa, were both absent from training ahead of the trip and did not join their team-mates on the plane leaving London. Kevin Danso and Djed Spence are expected to deputise again.

Mathys Tel is ineligible, so Richarlison will start as loanee Randal Kolo Muani continues to build up his fitness, with Dominic Solanke still sidelined. Lucas Bergvall and Pape Sarr will be pushing to start, with Xavi Simons' place in doubt.

Monaco are juggling many injuries of their own, most notably former Spurs star Eric Dier who misses the game with a hamstring problem. The likes of Vanderson, Denis Zakaria and Christian Mawissa will also miss out. Paul Pogba is still not fit enough to play.

This one should serve up some goals. Neither team can boast particularly impressive defences - especially with Romero out - but both have plenty to offer in attack.

Spurs are without 10 first-team players tonight as the fixtures turn tough

In charge: Thomas Frank

Getty Images

Matt Verri

COMMENTS

Your matchday briefing on Tottenham, featuring team news and expert analysis from Matt Verri

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

Just over two months into the season, it is difficult to know quite what to make of Tottenham's start to life under Thomas Frank.

Sixth in the table and five points off leaders Arsenal is a marked improvement from last season's Premier League shambles, while four points from two Champions League matches represents a strong platform to kick on from.

The defence is much-improved and set-pieces at both ends of the pitch have been transformed.

Yet there is a sense things are not quite right. The eye test tells you the right balance in midfield has not been found and that Spurs' attackers, Mohammed Kudus aside, are not as threatening as Frank needs.

The underlying data shows that Spurs are in the bottom half when it comes to expected goals and expected points.

Tottenham are over-performing their data

Action Images via Reuters

With an incredibly tough run of fixtures taking Spurs all the way through to Christmas, the direction of the team's season will soon become apparent.

Frank's side take on Monaco tonight in the Champions League and the French club have not lost at home this season, taking a point off Manchester City at the start of October.

Spurs have the best away record in the Premier League, but this will be a stern test, not least because a familiar problem is once again rearing its head.

Read More

Why Maresca is wrong about Chelsea's biggest problem

Liverpool 'learn UEFA punishment' for cancelled press conference

Wenger explains why this season is different for Arsenal

Sponsored

Get ahead with expert services designed to boost business development

For one reason or another, Frank will be without ten first-team players tonight. Coping without the likes of James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski is something Spurs have had to do all season, but the treatment room now has fresh blood.

Cristian Romero, Destiny Udogie and Ben Davies all returned from the international break with injury issues and have not travelled to Monaco.

As it stands, Spurs have two fit full-backs in the squad and 16-year-old Jun'ai Byfield as their only back-up centre-back. One more injury and either Archie Gray or Joao Palhinha would likely have to slot into the defence.

Cristian Romero picked up an injury in the warm-up on Sunday

Action Images via Reuters

Frank was unable to provide a timeframe for Romero's return, but he was asked at his pre-match press conference whether fans should be worried about the Spurs captain's injury.

He responded: “No, I don't think so. For me it's an adductor strain. We'll assess him this week and then we'll know more.”

Any anxiety from supporters, though, would only be natural. It was not far off this time last season that injury problems hit for Romero, and much of the Spurs squad, and the domestic season fell apart.

However long Romero is out for this time, and Spurs remain hopeful it is not for an extended period, he will be sorely missed.

Spurs were incredibly poor against Bodo/Glimt without their captain last month. Kevin Danso is a capable understudy but he cannot replace Romero's ability on the ball when it comes to finding passes through the lines.

Particularly with the Spurs midfield in front of him often being too safe in possession, Romero is capable of relieving the pressure and picking out the creative players in pockets of space.

Kevin Danso will be required to step up in his captain’s absence

John Walton/PA Wire

Ahead of what feels like a huge run of fixtures, coping without Romero is a significant test of Spurs' mentality. Much has been made of the improvements the team have made in that respect this season, with multiple comebacks, and this is another stern examination.

Particularly now with the captain's armband, Romero is the player this Spurs team look to in the toughest moments, to rally them and hold the fort together.

After tonight's clash, Spurs travel to face Everton on Sunday and are away at Newcastle in the Carabao Cup. Frank's side then host Chelsea and Manchester United - Spurs have won three of their last 18 home matches in the Premier League. Beyond the next international break, Arsenal and PSG loom.

It is a run that will potentially serve as a crossroads for the season. Come through it, even with the injury issues, and there will be no shortage of evidence that Spurs really have turned a corner under Frank, and the positive league positions are sustainable.

Picking up a result in Monaco without their captain would be the perfect start.

MORE ABOUT

Teacher wins £140K payout after co-worker said she 'let students down' by taking sick leave for back operation

Teacher told her sick leave 'let kids down' wins £140k payout