Tottenham Hotspur

Our youngsters suffered their first UEFA Youth League defeat of the season on Tuesday afternoon, losing out 3-2 to FC Copenhagen at Hotspur Way.

Having conceded to Gunnar Olsen and Dominik Sarapata in the closing stages of a disappointing first half, we improved after the restart and were thrown a lifeline four minutes into the second period when Callum Olusesi tapped home.

Copenhagen, however, were able to fashion a third goal through Jonathan Moalem soon afterwards and although substitute Tynan Thompson reduced our arrears once more, we couldn’t find a way back as our 100 per cent record in the competition came to an end on matchday four.

Missing a handful of regular starters due to international duty and injuries, our much-changed team had a few early opportunities to take the lead, George Feeney lobbing goalkeeper Oscar Buur but seeing his effort cleared off the line by Graham Ankamafio, Oli Irow’s angled drive pushed away by Buur and Tyley Tingey’s header from Harry Byrne’s free-kick scrambled out of the goalmouth by Aske Christensen with James Rowswell putting the pressure on.

Copenhagen turned the tide, though, and after Moalem headed a good chance over the bar and saw a low shot saved by Sam Archer, Andul Daramy again tested the latter, swiped a subsequent volley just wide and was then denied by Rowswell’s clearance after beating the keeper at his near post.

Enjoying the better of the chances at that stage, the Danish outfit took a 31st-minute lead when Sarapata beat the offside trap in the inside right channel and squared for Olsen to convert from the middle of the box. Nine minutes later, it was 2-0 as Sarapata cut in from the left and picked out the far bottom corner on his right foot to leave us with an uphill task going in at half-time.

The introduction of Tye Hall into central midfield at the break made a big difference for us and within four minutes of the resumption we had a goal back, Harry Byrne’s corner nodded back across the box by young defender Tyley Tingey – on his first UEFA Youth League start – for Olusesi to nudge home from close range. Hall played Reiss Elliott-Parris in just after that, but the striker fired agonisingly wide of the far post.

Our efforts to get back level suffered a blow on 54 minutes as Sarapata was allowed to roam unchallenged through our midfield and set up Moalem, who took a touch and finished clinically down to Archer’s right.

Unfortunately, we were unable to really find another gear to push for an equaliser after that and in truth it was Copenhagen who went closest to adding to the scoreline when Liam West sent a free-kick just over the bar.

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"Danish champions Copenhagen are yet to win in this season’s competition, but young head coach Jacob Neestrup has serious attacking talent. With the league phase taking shape too - how many points will likely be needed to qualify?"

Rob Daly, official club commentator, presenter and pundit

European pedigree - English exits...

Copenhagen are in the Champions League proper for the third time in four seasons, having reached the Round of 16 in 2023/24. Under current manager Jacob Neestrup, the Danish side drew away at Harry Kane’s Bayern Munich (0-0) while beating Manchester United (4-3) and Galatasaray (1-0) at home. Having come through that difficult group, they were beaten 6-2 on aggregate by Manchester City, while English opposition eliminated them last season too in the Conference League - Chelsea edging it 3-1 over two legs.

No win yet...

This season, the Danish champions are yet to win any of their opening three league phase games – including a 4-2 loss to Borussia Dortmund last time out. Those conceded goals came from just five shots on target, however Neestrup felt his side failed to utilise their own attacking moments. "We had some good transitions, but if you are to get a point or three against a top-class team like Dortmund, then you need to score the chances that you have.” The 2-2 draw with Bayer Leverkusen on Matchday 1 was better, twice leading the Bundesliga side playing mobile, fluid attacking football. However, the 2-0 defeat to Qarabag was a low point with Copenhagen giving up big chances when pressed playing out from the back.

Lifting the mood...

Nine days ago, after a 0-0 league draw with Viborg, Neestrup was extremely open about Copenhagen’s recent disappointing form. "We are in a difficult place... where we lack the last spark of self-confidence and flow that we have had before.” He detailed how the team were playing too slowly, adding they 'weren't good enough in counter-pressing and individual defensive play', failing to make use of their preferred tactics of winning the ball back quickly and playing forward.

Tactics + attack...

A midweek 4-1 cup win at Hobro, to follow up that result, was most welcome with summer signing Youssoufa Moukoko getting a hat-trick. The stocky striker was a Borussia Dortmund wonderkid, scoring for the first team aged 16 years and 28 days, but now 20, he needed regular first team football. Elsewhere, Jordan Larsson, son of Henrik, starts out on the right wing and produced a wonderful first-time finish in their draw with Leverkusen. Mohammed Elyounoussi is the team’s experienced creative spark, getting 11 goals and nine assists last season. He has scored at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium before too, in Southampton’s 3-2 win back in February 2022. The Norwegian is often up front in a 4-4-2 formation alongside veteran forward Viktor Claesson, although they are flexible enough to play three or five at the back.

How many points to qualify?

Now three matches have been played, we can look at how the League Phase is shaping up. Last season was the first in the Champions League’s new format - when 16 points guaranteed a top eight finish and place directly into the Round of 16. Despite the mirrored format in the Europa League, 14 points was enough in that competition. Ninth to 24th qualifies for the additional play-off round and Manchester City snuck in with 11 points last season, but only on goal difference. With five points garnered so far, tonight feels like an important game to give Spurs a strong foothold in the table before visiting the defending champions next – Paris Saint-Germain.

Watch | Thomas pre-match exclusive...

Our spirited comeback to beat Liverpool on Sunday made it three wins out of our four home games for the 2025/26 Barclays Women’s Super League.

Toko Koga’s first goal for the Club cancelled out Beata Olsson’s opener and got us back on level terms before Bethany England’s second half strike made it 15 points out of a possible 21 this term, lifting us back to fourth in the table and above north London rivals Arsenal.

So, how many times have we won three of our first four home games in a WSL season?

Well, the answer is one – and that was achieved on Sunday against the Reds.

We kicked started our WSL campaign with a 1-0 victory over West Ham United in September, after a late penalty from our captain claimed the three points from our London rivals.

And, despite a heavy defeat to Manchester City in the following home game, we quickly responded with another 1-0 win in front of our fans – this time against Brighton as Cathinka Tandberg slotted home from Jess Naz’s low cross.

In fact, if we include our home clashes in the Subway Women’s League Cup, we’ve only lost once in our six matches at Brisbane Road this campaign – a goalless draw with Aston Villa before a comfortable 3-0 win over Birmingham City.

As mentioned, Bethany also created WSL history with her strike against Liverpool as she became the first player to score 50 home goals in the competition.

Ahead of our meeting at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium tonight, here is a look at how FC Copenhagen have fared both in European football and against English opposition...

European football

Excluding the Intertoto Cup, this will be Copenhagen's 270th match in European competition. They have won 111 games, drawn 71 and lost 87.

Since their formation in 1992, they have played in at least one European match in every season.

Their best win percentage has come in UEFA's newest competition - the Europa Conference League (56 per cent) - with the lowest coming in the UEFA Cup/ Europa League (36 per cent).

In the Champions League, they hold a 40 per cent win ratio, taking victory in 47 of their 115 games to date.

Out of those wins, just 10 have come in the Champions League proper, and only two of those have come away from home - Panathinaikos (2010/11) and Club Brugge (2016/17).

So far this campaign, they have one point to their name in the League Phase, drawing 2-2 at home to Bayer Leverkusen on Matchday One. They have since suffered back-to-back defeats, 2-0 away at Qarabag and 4-2 at home to Borussia Dortmund.

English opposition

Tonight will be their 20th competitive game against European opposition.

Having previously faced Chelsea and Manchester City six times each, Manchester United five times and Leicester City twice, Copenhagen have won just two games, both coming against United (2006/07 and 2023/24) with both coming in Denmark.

They have lost 12 of the remaining 17 games, with the other five ending in draws.

They last faced an English side in just last term as they took on Chelsea in the Europa Conference League. Copenhagen lost both legs of the round of 16 tie.

Our players' records against FC Copenhagen

Only two of our players have faced FC Copenhagen to date in a competitive fixture.

Having played in Denmark between 2018 and 2020 for Nordsjælland, Mohammed Kudus has played Copenhagen six times, scoring once.

In October, 2023, Mathys Tel scored the winner for Bayern Munich when they defeated Copenhagen 2-1 in the Champions League group stage.

This is our first match against FC Copenhagen in European competition - but we have faced the Danish Superliga side before.

That encounter came over 21 years ago - 15 July 2004 - at the Ullevi Stadium in Gothenburg, Sweden, as part of the 30th anniversary of the Gothia Cup youth tournament. The second of our three-match training camp in Sweden, it resulted in a 2-2 draw. We also played Falkenbergs (1-1) and Trollhattan (0-1).

Alvaro Santos gave the reigning Danish champions a fourth minute lead which Dean Richards levelled in the 27th minute. Jermain Defoe put us 2-1 ahead but Thomas Roll equalised in the 76th minute. The crowd figure was 15,104.

Here's how we lined up that day: Keller, Carr, Taricco, Davis, Bunjevcevic, Richards, Davies (Marney 62), Brown, Defoe, Keane, Jackson (Ricketts 70). Substitutes (not used): Fulop, Mabizela, Yeates, Kelly, Doherty, McKie, Hughes, Barnard.

Pictured above: Jermain Defoe in action against FC Copenhagen in Gothenburg in 2004...

Comeback vs Aalborg | 2007

We've come up against Danish opposition just once on the European stage - and it took quite a comeback to topple Aalborg in the group stage of the Europa League at the Lane back in November, 2007. Goals from Thomas Enevoldsen and Kasper Risgard saw the visitors 2-0 up at half-time. However, a tactical switch from Juande Ramos as we moved to a 3-5-2 system did the trick as Dimitar Berbatov, Steed Malbranque and Darren Bent completely turned it around by the hour mark. That's how it stayed - and we'd progress to the quarter-finals that campaign before we were agonisingly beaten on penalties by PSV.

Our line-up vs Aalborg: Robinson, Lee (Bent 45), Chimbonda, Dawson, Bale, Lennon, Jenas (Huddlestone 45), Zokora, Malbranque, Keane, Berbatov (Boateng 74). Substitutes (not used): Cerny, Tainio, Stalteri, Taarabt.

Familiar PL foe for Copenhagen...

While we've only faced one Danish opponent in European competition, this MD4 encounter will represent FC Copenhagen's 20th match against English opposition - most recently losing out to Chelsea in the Conference League in March.

Our results vs the Danes...

Thomas Frank says our UEFA Champions League MD4 clash against FC Copenhagen will be 'a little special' for him - not least because he once managed their fierce city rivals, Brondby IF.

Thomas spent three years at Brondby, finishing third in the Danish Superliga in 2013/14 and 2014/15.

"I think they would be pleased to meet me again," Thomas smiled after he was asked by Danish journalists how he would describe his relationship with FC Copenhagen fans.

Here's what he had to say on this evening's opponents during yesterday's pre-match press conference at Hotspur Way...

How much do you follow games in the Superliga (Denmark)? How much have you seen of FC Copenhagen?

Thomas: “Of course I follow the results and the league, so I know how the results are every week. I still have good colleagues, friends working in different clubs, knowing obviously also a lot of people in Copenhagen. So, I know of course Copenhagen is not in the best place, but it's a very good team. They have very good European experience. I expect it to be a difficult game, and always that's my little bit go-to, no matter a team, if they're in form or they are out of form, the next game is the one that everything can change in. So, we prepare like normal, very aware of the strength of Copenhagen and of course some areas we like to exploit. So that's how I take it. I know Jacob Neestrup very well. He's a very good coach. He knows what he's doing with his coaching staff, so I expect a tough challenge and a tough tactical challenge.”

How would you describe your relationship with the Copenhagen fans? They probably remember your time in Brøndby as well!

Thomas: “Yeah, I think they would be pleased to meet me again. Of course, there's a relationship because I was head coach of Brøndby. Obviously, not the biggest fan of me, but that's fair, that's part of it.”

Do you still feel like you still have some Brøndby genes in you and do you feel like an extra rival with Copenhagen - or is it in the past?

Thomas: “Of course, I was almost three years in Brøndby. If you are that, the fans get under your skin, and the club does as well. So, of course, it's Brøndby that got my support. Tomorrow, in some ways, it's a little bit special against the Danish team. I know quite a few who work in the backroom staff and in the club. Of course, I know some of the Danish players from different, whether it be a national team or whatever, how I came across them. That's why it's a little more special. Tomorrow, I just want to win, we play in the Champions League, play at home and Vic said it perfectly - the best way to get a little bit back on track is a good performance and win at home. So, that's the main bit.”

New for this season, our Official Matchday Programme brings fans a collection of photos sourced from a deep dive into our Mirrorpix photography archive, most of which have never been seen before.

We'll bring you a taster of the gallery here on tottenhamhotspur.com...

Next up, it's FC Copenhagen in MD4 of the UEFA Champions League league phase - and, as we've only played the Danish side once in a friendly over 20 years ago, we've instead brought you a gallery of one of the greats, Pat Jennings, UEFA Cup winner in 1972 (plus FA Cup 1967, League Cup 1971, 1973) and regarded as the best goalkeeper in the world in his pomp.

Above - Pat makes a superb diving save to deny Everton’s Roy Vernon at Goodison just three games into his Spurs career in August 1964...