RB Leipzig thoroughly outplay injury-ravaged Spurs, despite modest 1-0 scoreline
Despite the scoreline being a modest 1-0, Spurs were thoroughly outplayed by Julian Nagelsmann’s RB Leipzig in the Champions League on Wednesday.
If you didn’t tune into Spurs’ Champions League round of 16 first leg match against RB Leipzig on Wednesday, then you probably at least checked the scoreline after the match.
“Leipzig 1 Spurs 0 – Timo Werner 58′ (P)” is what you would see on whichever app or website you use to check your scores. You would think: “Oh, tight match. A penalty won it for them – looks like Leipzig got lucky”.
Except maybe you didn’t click the “match stats” tab, providing your app or website has that (it should). Then you would see that Leipzig saw more of the ball, and had more shot attempts as well.
Yes, it’s true – during multiple spells in the match, Leipzig had a strangle-hold on Mourinho and Spurs. In the opening few minutes alone, the Bundesliga side had multiple golden goalscoring opportunities but unfortunately were not able to cash in.
It was a rather uninspiring performance from Spurs overall, but their lack of a focal point going forward was obviously a big problem. Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son, the 2 biggest physical presences in Spurs’ attacking arsenal (haha), are both likely out for the season with injuries that threaten to decimate Mourinho’s entire plan.
Spurs dont have a focal point, dont have clinical finishers, or long range shooters. theyre going to have to get every ounce of creativity and dynamism on the pitch to create clear chances on transition. sit deep, play through midfield and play early balls down the sides of CB’s
— Harry Brooks (@hbrooks_coach) February 19, 2020
While they tried their best to have Bergwijn and Moura running through the channels on the break, nothing quite happened in the match for the North London club, except for those moments when the excellent Giovani Lo Celso weaved his magic.
Ultimately, yes, Leipzig only squeezed by with a penalty in the 2nd half, but we mustn’t forget that they were missing key players as well, in players like Upamecano, Konate, and Adams.
Nagelsmann is arguably the most flexible manager in the world these days however, and he was able to maintain his gameplan throughout the 90 minutes – quick, difficult-to-track runs from his forwards within the gaps in-and-around the box, while aiming to use Manchester City loanee Angelino as the outlet on the left-hand side.
While no goals came from open play, Leipzig were dangerous throughout, and Nagelsmann found a way to pick apart one of Mourinho’s infamously frustrating football teams (which I must say, are getting less and less solid as the years go on).
Next. Jose Mourinho is still a rockstar. dark
With Leipzig having a strong home record this season, it will take something special for striker-less Spurs to win in Germany to advance to the quarter-finals.