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The final whistle has sounded in the game between Tottenham Hotspur and Atletico Madrid in the Champions League second-leg round of 16 tie, and the player ratings are in.

Tottenham managed to go in front three times in this game thanks to a Randal Kolo Muani goal and a Xavi Simons brace, but that was not enough as Atletico Madrid won the tie on aggregate 7-5.

Let us take a look at our Tottenham 3-2 Atletico Madrid player ratings.

Guglielmo Vicario – The Italian was forced into a couple of saves, notably when he kept Spurs in the lead after a shot from Atletico Madrid was deflected by Cristian Romero. In the second half, though, he was well beaten by Julian Alvarez and David Hancko. 7.

Radu Dragusin – He put in a good shift against Ademola Lookman in the first half, keeping the Atletico Madrid man quiet while also offering some threat with his long throws. In the second half, he was taken off for the returning Destiny Udogie. 6.5.

Cristian Romero – In the first forty-five minutes, he made a crucial interception that prevented Lookman from tapping into an empty net at the back post. In the second half, he made a similar block, preventing another back-post tap-in. He did, however, pick up a yellow card after a lunging challenge in midfield. 7.

Micky van de Ven – The centre-back had a quiet first half with a few threats to deal with. In the second half, though, he could have done better when Atletico Madrid broke, and Alvarez scored, with the Dutchman appearing to stick out a lazy leg. 6.5.

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Djed Spence – He put in a decent shift on both flanks, starting on the left and offering width while joining the attack. He was then moved to the right after Udogie’s introduction, where at times Alvarez got the better of him, although one effort was blocked by Romero. 7.

Pedro Porro – The full-back turned right midfielder came very close to making it 3-1 for Tottenham, as Simons’ pass found him free in the box, but his outside-of-the-boot effort was superbly saved by Musso. 7.

Archie Gray – The youngster carried his impressive first-half display into the second, and his endeavours were rewarded as he registered the assist for Spurs’ second of the night. He was head and shoulders above many who lined up in midfield. 9.

Pape Matar Sarr – In the first half, Sarr featured alongside Gray and often had the licence to push forward. His best work came defensively, making interceptions in midfield and winning aerial duels. In the second half, his role changed as he became the lone midfielder while Gray pushed up, although he should have done better defending the corner that led to Atletico Madrid’s second, losing his man at the near post. 7.

Xavi Simons – The Dutchman showed intent in the first half, often trying to be positive in possession, and he created a good chance for Mathys Tel, who failed to convert. In the second half, he maintained that intensity, scoring Spurs’ second before creating a chance for Porro. He added his second of the night from the penalty spot after winning the spot-kick. 8.5.

Mathys Tel – The wide forward was electric in the first half and provided the assist for Spurs’ opener. He was direct, looked to beat his man, and got several shots away. In the second half, his influence faded as Spurs attacked more down the right. 7.5.

Randal Kolo Muani – He took his goal well in the first half, guiding home a header from Tel’s cross. In the second half, though, he had little impact. Had a big chance to score at the end and make it 6-7 in the tie, but saw his effort blocked. 7.

Substitutes

Destiny Udogie – Came on and managed to get a solid 20-plus minutes at left-back for Tottenham. He joined the attack but did not create anything noteworthy, eventually picking up a booking. 6.

Lucas Bervall – The Swede was given 15 minutes of action following his return from injury. He came on for Porro and moved straight into midfield. N/A.

Conor Gallagher – The former Atleti man replaced an impressive Archie Gray, marking his return from illness. N/A.

Kevin Danso – With one eye on the weekend, Danso came on for Romero in the final minutes of the game. N/A.

The first half of Champions League action has just come to a close between Tottenham Hotspur and Atletico Madrid at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Tottenham find themselves a goal up after Randal Kolo Muani struck in the first half, as they look to turn around a three-goal deficit in the second leg of their round of 16 tie with Atletico Madrid.

Let’s take a look at how the individual players got on:

Guglielmo Vicario – He was barely threatened by Atletico Madrid for most of the half. The visitors did find the back of the net, but it was ruled out for offside. Late in the first half, he was forced into a save after an Atleti effort from range was deflected by Romero. 7

Radu Dragusin – The centre-back was deployed at right-back, as Igor Tudor opted to set up in a 4-4-2 system, and he stuck to his task well, keeping Ademola Lookman quiet on the wing. He also offered a set-piece threat with his long throw, one of which led to a Mathys Tel chance, but his shot was straight at Musso 7.

Cristian Romero – Back in the side, he made a vital block to prevent a certain goal following Marcos Llorente’s cross from the byline aimed at Lookman at the back post, but Romero was there to intercept. 6.

Micky van de Ven – A quieter evening for the Dutchman, who early on struggled to deal with Llorente, who found joy down Spurs’ left. As the game went on, however, the Atletico Madrid man found less success. 6.

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Djed Spence – The wing-back has been given licence to go forward, and he took it, often offering width to Tottenham’s attack. Defensively, though, he struggled to deal with Marcos Llorente, who often got in behind Spurs’ defence from that side. 5.

Pedro Porro – Being used as a right midfielder as opposed to a full-back, he has managed to get forward a few times to put crosses into the box, but none were threatening. 6.

Archie Gray – The youngster has kept things ticking in the middle of the park, often showing for the ball before pushing into the final third to join the attack. A very mature and confident display so far. 7.5.

Pape Matar Sarr – The Senegal international has complemented his midfield partner well, often getting stuck into tackles and winning his share of aerial duels. 7.

Xavi Simons – He has the freedom to float around in midfield and has shown a willingness to make things happen, but is often guilty of holding on to the ball for too long. He did block Marcos Llorente’s effort from troubling Vicario, while later finding Tel in space, although the chance was not taken. 6.

Mathys Tel – The Frenchman started on the left and linked up well with Djed Spence down that flank. He registered Spurs’ first effort on target, although it was a tame one that Musso dealt with comfortably. He was the liveliest of Tottenham’s attackers, repeatedly taking on his man and getting shots away. He eventually grabbed the assist for Spurs’ first goal, with his cross finding Muani unmarked in the box. He had a good chance to make it two after Simons played a lovely first-time pass into him, but he failed to make the most of the opportunity. He should have squared it for one of the two Tottenham players waiting in the box 8.

Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed their starting XI for the crucial Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid, with Igor Tudor’s side facing a daunting task in north London.

It is still all to play for at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium tonight as Igor Tudor’s men look to overturn a three-goal deficit in the second-leg tie of their Champions League round of 16 encounter with Atletico Madrid.

Micky van de Ven made it clear that Spurs have nothing to lose going into this tie and, as such, we can expect a response.

Igor Tudor believes a comeback is possible for Tottenham, and now it remains to be seen how it unfolds on the pitch.

Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero return

Spurs were handed an injury boost coming into this round of 16 second-leg matchup, with Cristian Romero back in the side after a concussion injury.

Destiny Udogie and Lucas Bergvall were spotted in training ahead of Tottenham’s clash with Atleti and are fit enough to make the bench.

However, for Joao Palhinha, the tie comes a little too soon and has missed out selection.

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While ten players still remain sidelined because of injuries, Tudor will be hoping the players he has at his disposal are enough for Tottenham to pull off what is a massive task.

Tonight, Spurs need to lead by a three-goal margin to force extra time and penalties, or win by at least a four-goal margin to progress and face either Barcelona or Newcastle United.

This is the Tottenham XI that takes to the pitch tonight at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium:

TOTTENHAM XI: Vicario; Pedro Porro, Romero, Dragusin, Van de Ven, Spence; Gray, Sarr, Tel, Xavi Simons; Kolo Muani.

Subs: Kinsky, Austin, Danso, Udogie, Bergvall, Gallagher, Olusesi, Kyerematen, Rowswell.

ATLETICO MADRID XI: Musso; Molina, Le Normand, Hancko, Ruggeri; Giuliano Simeone, Marcos Llorente, Johnny Cardoso, Lookman; Griezmann, Julián Álvarez.

Spurs face huge task in Champions League second leg

This is a big game for Spurs, and getting a result here, even if they do not make it to the quarter-finals, will serve as a boost going into the remaining fixtures this season.

The draw against Liverpool was a massive boost for Tottenham, one they now hope will spark their season.

Tottenham Hotspur have identified a budding Belgian midfield starlet as someone who can fill a crucial hole in their squad, but they face plenty of competition for his services.

Spurs have secured some extremely talented young midfielders for relative discounts over recent years, with Lucas Bergvall, Archie Gray, and Pape Sarr all arguably worth more than what the Lilywhites paid for them.

Tottenham are now looking to repeat the trick again with a 17-year-old who has been taking Belgian football by storm.

Over recent months, it has been widely reported that Spurs have set their sights on an Anderlecht youngster, whose reputation is rising rapidly, but the Lilywhites will not have a free run at the player.

Three Premier League clubs ready to challenge Tottenham for Nathan De Cat

It was previously reported that Johan Lange is driving Tottenham’s pursuit of Nathan De Cat, who is continuing to turn a lot of heads with his performances in the Jupiler Pro League.

A new report in Fussball Daten has now revealed that Spurs are indeed keen on landing the teenager and have sent scouts to Belgium recently to run the rule over him.

It is claimed that Tottenham see De Cat as the ‘ideal deep-lying playmaker’ for their system, but they face competition from Man United, who have also scouted the youngster.

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Additionally, it is revealed that the midfielder’s statistics on ball recovery and progressive passing have also piqued the interest of both Aston Villa and Brighton.

How much is De Cat likely to cost this summer?

Fussball Daten say that there is also a ‘Bundesliga offensive’ for a Belgium Under-18 international, who is on the radars of Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen.

De Cat’s current deal at Anderlecht only runs until the summer of 2027, but Anderlecht have no intention of selling him for a cut-price fee this summer.

The Belgian club are only expected to entertain offers in the region of €30m-€35m (£26m-£30.2m) for the midfielder, which would make the deal a record transfer for any teenager from the division.

Igor Tudor has issued an update on Conor Gallagher’s condition ahead of Tottenham Hotspur’s Champions League clash, with the midfielder facing a late fitness test.

It has been good news on the injury front for Tottenham Hotspur as several of their injured stars are nearing a return.

Igor Tudor confirmed earlier today that three of Tottenham’s injured players are set to make the bench on Wednesday night against Atletico Madrid, but for Joao Palhinha, it remains touch-and-go.

That is a big boost for Spurs, who were once set to be without 13 senior players, with the number now reduced to ten.

Ahead of the Atletico Madrid clash, Igor Tudor has now provided another injury update, this time on Conor Gallagher, who is dealing with an illness.

The former Atleti man missed the weekend encounter against Liverpool and remains a doubt for Wednesday’s game in the Champions League, with Tudor revealing it is touch-and-go with the midfielder.

Providing an update on Gallagher’s condition, Tudor explained the situation when speaking about his availability.

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He told football.london: “We see today what we can do because he has, as you know, probably asthma problems. He has some virus to make some not nice things, so we are going to see tomorrow if he is able to go on the bench. Nothing like a danger, but still he is not able to play.”

Spurs could rely on Pape Matar Sarr and Archie Gray

Gallagher’s return will be a welcome bonus for Tottenham, who will be desperate to get all the help they can in the run-in.

But Tudor might not be overly worried, as his two young midfielders, Pape Matar Sarr and Archie Gray have stepped up in different moments this season.

Both Gray and Pape Sarr were impressive against Liverpool, with Tudor left full of praise for the two young midfielders.

Micky van de Ven has firmly addressed speculation surrounding Tottenham Hotspur amid growing transfer talk involving the club’s players.

It is crucial for Tottenham Hotspur to have a strong sense of togetherness at this stage of the season, with so much still to play for.

Spurs are still in the Champions League, even though they face elimination following their 5-2 defeat against Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their round of 16 tie.

They must now overturn a three-goal deficit to force extra time and penalties, or win by four goals to secure progression to the next round.

Tottenham are also fighting to avoid the drop in the Premier League, as they run the risk of being relegated, with just one point separating them from 18th-placed West Ham United.

Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven responds to transfer rumours

Performances have to improve on the pitch, and there is no denying that the draw with Liverpool provides Spurs with something to build on.

With the club in somewhat of a crisis, given their struggles this term, there have been talks about a few of their stars wanting out.

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Micky van de Ven has found himself at the centre of those rumours, with several clubs in Europe reported to be after the Dutchman.

Van de Ven has now addressed those claims, dismissing suggestions of unrest within the squad when speaking to football.london.

He said: “The other day when we read that one guy told the rest of the team that he does not care because he is leaving anyway. It is like, how does this come out? It is just made up. And the fans will believe it. It is just frustrating for us guys.”

Spurs unity message from Micky van de Ven amid speculation

Further addressing the reports, Van de Ven continued to reject claims about players being unsettled and questioned the narrative being circulated.

He added: “Of course, I have seen things [written]. Reporters just say things sometimes, and it is like how did you come up with this, like players have switched off. It is not true. They say players are going to leave either way. It is just nonsense, and people start believing it.”

While rumours continue to fly, Tottenham’s display on the pitch last weekend against Liverpool showed that this group of players are still fighting for the badge.

Spurs were relentless and even outran Liverpool on Sunday evening. But when senior players make silly mistakes in games, it is only natural that questions are asked about where their heads are.

Tottenham Hotspur have received a timely injury boost ahead of their Champions League clash, with Igor Tudor offering an update as several players return to training.

Tottenham Hotspur’s defeat to Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 was only their second loss in Europe this term.

But that could prove to be a far costlier defeat for the Europa League winners, who are on the verge of being knocked out of the competition.

Tottenham need to secure a victory to progress to the quarter-finals of the Champions League, but that win must be by a four-goal margin for outright qualification or by three goals to force extra time and penalties.

It is a big ask, but it is one Spurs will have to meet if they are to keep their European hopes alive.

Igor Tudor, however, has been handed a few boosts coming into this tie that might make him optimistic about his chances.

Earlier this week, it was reported that Tottenham were set to be without at least 13 players for the Atleti tie, but that number now looks to have been reduced to nine.

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Destiny Udogie is back on the training pitches despite his return being set for the weekend game against Nottingham Forest.

Cristian Romero and Joao Palhinha were also seen in training for Tottenham ahead of their clash against Atletico Madrid.

In a shock turn of events, Lucas Bergvall, who was set for a return in April, was also seen training at Hotspur Way, which is a big boost for Tottenham.

Igor Tudor has now provided an injury update on his Tottenham squad ahead of Wednesday’s second-leg tie with Atletico Madrid, explaining exactly where these players stand in their recovery thus far.

He told George Sessions: “Joao (Palhinha), no but Destiny (Udogie) and Lucas (Bergvall) will be on the bench tomorrow. One part of the game, not too much, but it is good to see them.”

On Romero, he added: “Yes, he can play. Joao is a little bit worse, so he will be for the next game but Romero is in.”

Opta’s Supercomputer has revealed the most likely result as Atletico Madrid travel to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 tie on Wednesday.

Spurs were demolished at the Metropolitano Stadium, going 4-0 down within 22 minutes after a disastrous start.

While they did well to add some respectability to the scoreline subsequently, they still lost 5-2, which means that they are on the brink of elimination from the Champions League.

Tottenham may have bigger fish to fry domestically, where they are involved in a fight for Premier League survival, but some supporters may still hold out hope of a dramatic comeback against the La Liga side.

No clear favourites in the second leg between Tottenham and Atletico Madrid

Opta’s supercomputer believes that the result in North London in the second leg may be too close to call.

The data analysis platform gives Tottenham a 38.5 per cent chance of emerging victorious on the day, while Atletico have been handed a 37 per cent chance of beating Spurs for the second time in a row.

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A draw is deemed the least likely result on Wednesday, with just a 24.5 per cent chance of the spoils being shared.

Of course, victory alone will not be enough for Tottenham, who have to beat the Spanish side by at least three goals to take the tie to extra time.

Spurs may prioritise the relegation six-pointer over Atletico clash

Spurs need to score at least two early goals without response to put Atletico under pressure on Wednesday.

Diego Simeone’s men are experts at preserving the lead and hitting the opposition on the counter, which is why a turnaround is extremely unlikely for the Lilywhites.

Besides, there is no doubt that Igor Tudor’s priority would be to beat Nottingham Forest next Sunday, and the Croat could potentially even rest some players for the Atletico clash.

Tottenham Hotspur have received a timely lift ahead of their Champions League clash, with one key player spotted back in training at a crucial moment in the season.

All eyes will be on Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as the Europa League winners look to secure passage to the quarter-final of the Champions League.

But this will be one of Spurs’ biggest tests yet, as they need to lead by three goals to force extra time and win by four goals to secure progression to the next round after losing 5-2 in the round of 16 first leg at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium.

Tottenham come into this encounter off the back of a 1-1 draw with Liverpool, one they hope serves as a spark in what has been a dreadful campaign thus far.

Tottenham injury boost as Destiny Udogie returns to training

But that is not the only boost Spurs are getting ahead of their big round of 16 tie on Wednesday. Earlier today, Tottenham received a couple of injury boosts as a few injured stars were spotted in training.

Lucas Bergvall, whose return was pencilled in for April, was on the training pitch, alongside Cristian Romero, who was a doubt due to concussion protocols. Joao Palhinha was also doing solo training.

It is now understood that Destiny Udogie was also on the training pitches. Udogie was expected to return to full action against Nottingham Forest at the weekend, but it looks like he is back early for Spurs.

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Spurs handed timely lift before 25/26 season run-in

This is big for Tottenham, who have barely had any luck on the injury front. However, it is very unlikely that all of these players will be thrown straight into the mix in the clash against Atletico Madrid.

Spurs’ main focus for the season remains avoiding relegation, and one would expect that Igor Tudor will be looking to achieve that with his injured players now returning.

For Tottenham, Wednesday should be about avoiding a heavy defeat and keeping belief within the camp.

A win, even though it might not be enough to secure progression, will be another big boost for Spurs as they go into the final stretch of the Premier League season.

Tottenham Hotspur supporters who travel to the stadium for the Atletico Madrid clash will get a glimpse of a former fan favourite.

Spurs fans have already seen many of the club’s legends return to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as special guests over recent months.

Heung-min Son was a special guest for the Champions League tie against Slavia Prague earlier this season, with the former Tottenham captain getting a chance to say goodbye to the supporters in person following his summer move.

More recently, Jan Vertonghen returned to Spurs to watch their 2-2 draw against Man City, and now, one of his compatriots is also set to make an appearance at N17. Dele Alli also made his emotional return to Tottenham earlier this year.

Toby Alderweireld will be Tottenham’s special guest against Atletico Madrid

Spurs have now announced that Toby Alderweireld will be at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as the special guest for the second leg of the Champions League R16 clash against Atletico.

The club have revealed that the supporters at the stadium will hear from the Belgian centre-back at 7.45 pm, 15 minutes before the kick-off at 8 pm.

Alderweireld, who was part of the Tottenham side which finished runners-up in the Champions League in 2019, will reminisce with Paul Coyte about his six years in North London.

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The 37-year-old, who hung up his boots last summer, also played for Atletico, making 22 appearances in his solitary season for the La Liga side.

Will Igor Tudor exercise caution in his selection against Atletico?

The Tottenham interim boss showed a willingness to use academy players against Liverpool, although his hands had been somewhat tied due to the club’s injury crisis.

One wonders if we may see a couple of those youngsters start on Wednesday, as not only is a comeback unlikely, but the Spurs have bigger fish to fry.

Tudor’s and Tottenham’s priority would be the clash against Nottingham Forest on Sunday, with the prospect of relegation casting a shadow on the whole club.