🔗 Share this article Tottenham Ease Strain on Thomas Frank as Xavi Simons Rounds Off Straightforward Win Against Slavia Prague The South Korean star's emotional return to the club he served for a ten-year period was somewhat dimmed by a contest that lacked competitive edge. Extracting significant insights from this new Champions League format before the latter rounds commence proves a difficult task. This fixture was predominantly a non-event in terms of competitiveness, making it a mistake to assume Tottenham have transformed into a unstoppable force on their own ground. They faced a moderate test from Slavia Prague and did not have to exert themselves fully to claim the result. An Evening of Modest Opposition Slavia Prague, arriving winless from their first six group stage fixtures, presented minimal threat. The Czech Republic champions gave away a peculiar own goal in the first half before surrendering two soft penalties after the half-time break. "I was pleased we continued the momentum from the Brentford game," Frank stated. "This side is gelling increasingly." Despite the lopsided scoreline, Frank is entitled to cling to indicators of progress after a troubled start to his time in charge. He will be unconcerned by the approximately 15,000 unsold tickets at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The Legend's Touching Homecoming The thin crowd in the upper tiers maybe reflected a lack of excitement about the opposition's quality, despite a huge roar welcomed Son Heung-min during his formal send-off ceremony before kick-off. The goal came from Son who scored the historic goal at this arena after the club's move in 2019. Although his impact diminished last season, he will always be remembered as a Tottenham icon. His presence undoubtedly enhanced the atmosphere, even if the current group of players also contributed. Match Summary The opening goal arrived in the first half when the Argentine defender glanced a Pedro Porro set-piece, leading to Slavia's David Zima directing a strange header past his own goalkeeper. Mohammed Kudus made it 2-0 from the penalty spot just five minutes into the second period, after a Slavia defender was ruled to have brought down Porro. With the result secure, Spurs were able to manage the game. Xavi Simons then completed the evening by winning and scoring a another penalty later on. Key Points Positive Form: The win followed the weekend's success against Brentford, easing the immediate pressure on head coach Thomas Frank. Xavi Simons' Confidence: Finding the net once more will boost the talented midfielder confidence significantly. Squad Setback: Micky van de Ven's needless booking makes him ineligible for the pivotal next Champions League match against Borussia Dortmund. Overall, it was a efficient performance from Spurs against limited competition. The atmosphere around the club has shifted, and the heat on the coach has for now subsided.
The South Korean star's emotional return to the club he served for a ten-year period was somewhat dimmed by a contest that lacked competitive edge. Extracting significant insights from this new Champions League format before the latter rounds commence proves a difficult task. This fixture was predominantly a non-event in terms of competitiveness, making it a mistake to assume Tottenham have transformed into a unstoppable force on their own ground. They faced a moderate test from Slavia Prague and did not have to exert themselves fully to claim the result. An Evening of Modest Opposition Slavia Prague, arriving winless from their first six group stage fixtures, presented minimal threat. The Czech Republic champions gave away a peculiar own goal in the first half before surrendering two soft penalties after the half-time break. "I was pleased we continued the momentum from the Brentford game," Frank stated. "This side is gelling increasingly." Despite the lopsided scoreline, Frank is entitled to cling to indicators of progress after a troubled start to his time in charge. He will be unconcerned by the approximately 15,000 unsold tickets at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The Legend's Touching Homecoming The thin crowd in the upper tiers maybe reflected a lack of excitement about the opposition's quality, despite a huge roar welcomed Son Heung-min during his formal send-off ceremony before kick-off. The goal came from Son who scored the historic goal at this arena after the club's move in 2019. Although his impact diminished last season, he will always be remembered as a Tottenham icon. His presence undoubtedly enhanced the atmosphere, even if the current group of players also contributed. Match Summary The opening goal arrived in the first half when the Argentine defender glanced a Pedro Porro set-piece, leading to Slavia's David Zima directing a strange header past his own goalkeeper. Mohammed Kudus made it 2-0 from the penalty spot just five minutes into the second period, after a Slavia defender was ruled to have brought down Porro. With the result secure, Spurs were able to manage the game. Xavi Simons then completed the evening by winning and scoring a another penalty later on. Key Points Positive Form: The win followed the weekend's success against Brentford, easing the immediate pressure on head coach Thomas Frank. Xavi Simons' Confidence: Finding the net once more will boost the talented midfielder confidence significantly. Squad Setback: Micky van de Ven's needless booking makes him ineligible for the pivotal next Champions League match against Borussia Dortmund. Overall, it was a efficient performance from Spurs against limited competition. The atmosphere around the club has shifted, and the heat on the coach has for now subsided.