Tottenham Learn More Champions League Realities in Tough Draw at Leverkusen
First the return, then the response, now a realisation.
If Tottenham Hotspur's Champions League win over CSKA Moscow reinforced the feeling their opening-night disappointment against Monaco was an uncharacteristic blip, this 0-0 draw with Bayer Leverkusen offered what may prove a timely reminder.
Europe's premier competition can be tough, at times unforgiving.
For 45 minutes, Spurs looked the superior side to Leverkusen. After the interval, they were fortunate to hang on and earn the point that keeps them second in Group E, sandwiched in second place between Monaco and their latest opponents with a point either way.
With just one more away fixture left in the group stage now between two "home" dates at Wembley Stadium, perhaps manager Mauricio Pochettino's side are over the worst.
Tottenham's two toughest trips in terms of distance and arguably competition have been navigated with four points and, in parts of their performances at least, they have shown encouraging aptitude for this level.
As a Premier League title challenger last season—and looking like contending again this time—that may be the least they should offer, but the difficulties their divisional peers have had during this decade should be evidence enough that such assumptions are misguided.
They will hope too that familiarity with the Wembley environment now will help them avoid the kind of letdown they experienced against Monaco. Their temporary venue being sold out for the two fixtures means they will have plenty of backing once again.
The greater takeaway from the first half of this season's group—and certainly the game against Leverkusen—is just how good they will need to be to progress, let alone reach the heights to thrive against even better competition should they make the later rounds (their latest opponents are only 10th in the Bundesliga right now, though they should be pushing on soon enough).
Pochettino was just about spot-on in his pre-match assessment of what Spurs would face at the small but raucous BayArena.
"It's a team we know very well with very good players and a team that is normally playing in the Champions League, so they have that experience," the Argentinian told his club's official website.
"They have players who are very aggressive, who try to press high and are dynamic and aggressive. They like to play on the counter-attack with very quick transition."
Afterwards, he declared himself "pleased with the point" from a battle with Leverkusen boss Roger Schmidt's team that did not surprise him at all.
"I thought we were better in the first half, they were better in the second half. It was two different halves," he said, again per the Tottenham website.
"I'm pleased with the effort because this is a team that plays well, plays aggressive and is always difficult to play against here at the BayArena."
After back-and-forth opening exchanges, Spurs settled well into the contest.
There were some scares at their end. Javier Hernandez was a nuisance popping up all over, while there were hints of the difficulties Spurs would later face defending their flanks directly and via sudden switches. Hakan Calhanoglu definitely should have done better here in the 35th minute, but a poor touch allowed Kieran Trippier to intervene.
Mostly, though, the north Londoners played with the confidence that had marked their preceding 1-0 win over CSKA Moscow.
Roared on by typically strong away support, they played some lovely football at times. Centre-forward Vincent Janssen continued where he left off against West Bromwich Albion the previous weekend, softening up the Leverkusen defence. Trippier was a near-constant outlet high up the right wing, bombarding the Germans' box with inviting centres.
Creating for and benefiting from all this was the attacking midfield quartet in Spurs' 4-1-4-1.
As against the Russians last month, Pochettino again deployed Heung-Min Son, Dele Alli, Christian Eriksen and Erik Lamela here. In the league, Moussa Sissoko has been utilised to provide a more powerful, direct thrust in the position. Those selected here offered a little more subtlety in their intricate, penetrating interchanges.
A disallowed goal 10 minutes in highlighted the Spurs attack's potential.
Alli and Janssen could not quite break through out left, but the team recovered it in midfield, with Eriksen promptly sending Lamela forward. He exquisitely chipped Son in behind the Leverkusen defence, and the South Korean squared to Janssen to score, but unfortunately, both were offside.
Alli almost played Son in down the left a little later on, while on the other side, Trippier sent in the first of those crosses. The former pair did manage to connect next time, but after beating a challenge, the ex-Leverkusen man's shot was well blocked by Omer Toprak.
Momentum slowed for a spell, but toward the end of the half, Spurs went really close.
Janssen teed up an Alli shot that Toprak again got in front of. The away side kept possession, and Trippier found the Dutchman, who headed against the crossbar before Lamela's rebound volley forced a great save from Bernd Leno.
Spurs continued to search for a way through, with Janssen and Trippier again causing problems, but Leverkusen held on.
At the halfway point, it seemed a matter of time before Spurs would score.
Like against CSKA, it was clear they had to keep at it, but they seemed in the ascendancy. The attack was sparkling and well supported by Victor Wanyama in midfield, while defensively, they were focused enough.
Within five minutes of the second-half, the mood and match changed quite dramatically.
Tottenham goalkeeper and captain Hugo Lloris' goal-line save to deny Hernandez (see above) will not soon be forgotten.
"It was brilliant, just brilliant," an approving and grateful Pochettino said of the desperate but no-less brilliant reaction stop.
"To talk about Hugo, he's one of the best. That's my opinion about him. It's great to have him in goal. His save was fantastic and very important for the team."
Lloris was bought with occasions and games like this in mind, and he delivered. Before Spurs are done with the Champions League this season, whenever that may be, they will need him ready again.
Prior to this attack in which Spurs were ripped apart—Lars Bender finding space between Danny Rose and Jan Vertonghen out left, Hernandez escaping from Trippier to shoot—they were enjoying playing against an opponent that relished attacking just as much. After spending much of the West Brom game trying to break down their stubborn resistance, a more open game looked a refreshing change of pace.
The trouble with such matches in this competition is, if you do not make said foe pay when you can, they are just as capable of getting at you.
Leverkusen were as "dynamic and aggressive" as Pochettino predicted. They upped their game in the second half with substitute Julian Baumgartlinger contributing to a greater midfield presence that successfully absorbed the now-sussed Tottenham advances.
The way they pinned Spurs back, almost overwhelming them, brought to mind last season's Europa League defeat at fellow Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund. Except this time the English club had seemed much better set up to answer questions posed by such a team.
That is the reality of playing in the Champions League. The best of intentions and the most thoughtful of plans can quickly fall away, especially for a more limited outfit like Spurs—compared to giants such as Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.
They were stretched dangerously close to breaking point, lured out of shape and attacked repeatedly in the holes created. Centre-backs Eric Dier and Vertonghen frantically tried to plug these gaps but were often preoccupied with other threats. Lloris made several sturdy saves from testing long-range strikes.
There was some good defending at times, Rose and Vertonghen particularly digging deep to get their team out of bother. But make no mistake, it was desperate stuff.
Pochettino's attempt to stifle and perhaps turn around the Leverkusen flow with substitutions did not work out.
Mousa Dembele was a good substitute on paper, but bringing him on for Janssen left Spurs without a sufficient outlet. The striker had been quiet early in the second-half but only because his team could not get anywhere near him. Without his running and willingness to get among the red shirts, there was no one able to benefit from Dembele's midfield work and give them the breather they needed.
If that change was a misjudgement on Pochettino's part, Sissoko being unable to offer much was more testament to Leverkusen's continued superiority in this period.
“After the game, it's a good point," the Spurs boss concluded in the aftermath. "It was a game where we wanted to take the three points. After the second half, we need to feel pleased with the draw."
Describing the return match with Leverkusen as "in our hands now at Wembley," Tottenham should be well prepared. Or as well as they can be for a balanced and talented team their respect for will only have increased.
That they are still in the hunt to advance in the Champions League with three matches left, their domestic form thus far unaffected, is a reason to be pleased. Better may still be to come from the Premier League side, but so too could be some just as difficult nights.
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