Partizan vs. Tottenham: Score, Grades and Reaction from Europa League Game

Tottenham Hotspur opened their 2014-15 UEFA Europa League campaign with a scoreless draw at Serbian side Partizan on Thursday night at the Stadion Partizana in Belgrade. 

The Premier League side controlled possession in the first half but largely failed to create clear chances apart from Harry Kane, who hit the woodwork in the second minute. Partizan improved after the break but rarely threatened Tottenham's goal.

Up next for Tottenham in Europa League Group C is a home game against Besiktas on Oct. 2. The Turkish side drew 1-1 at home to Asteras Tripolis on Thursday. Spurs return to the Premier League this weekend, hosting West Bromwich Albion on Sunday.

Partizan will play at Asteras Tripolis on Oct. 2.

Spurs started brightly and created a clear chance with barely more than a minute on the clock. Following a corner for the visitors, Kane controlled the ball on the left side of Partizan's box and fired a high shot off the underside of the crossbar from a tight angle.

Tottenham continued to control possession throughout the first half, but Kane's near-miss remained the best chance for either side during the opening 45 minutes.

In the 25th minute, Partizan's Danko Lazovic created a chance for himself after pulling down a throw-in deep inside Tottenham's box. By the time he turned to shoot from close range, however, Spurs defender Jan Vertonghen had raced across to make a timely block.

Kane volleyed over the bar in the 29th minute after Partizan failed to clear their box, and one minute later at the other end, Sasa Ilic fired off-target following a quick move by the home side down their right flank.

Marko Drobnjakovic/Associated Press

Partizan's best chance of the opening period came off a counter following a Spurs corner in stoppage time. Again the attack moved down the right flank, with the ball eventually worked to Danilo Pantic, whose low shot was saved comfortably.

Having held Spurs scoreless in the first half, Partizan started the second 45 minutes as the better side. In the 49th minute, Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris had to be alert to push away a dangerous free-kick in his box. Two minutes later, Lloris saved a tame shot from Petar Grbic following Lazovic's lay-off in the box.

Lazovic created more danger in the 61st minute, redirecting a cross on target from close range. Lloris made a fine save to deny Lazovic, but the Partizan man had already been ruled offside.

A poor clearance gave Ilic another chance in the 75th minute, but the Partizan midfielder blazed his first-time effort well over the bar from the edge of the box. Two minutes later, Grbic pulled back a cross for Ilic from deep on the right, but this time Ilic headed off target.

From there the match seemed destined to end without a goal, and after playing out the closing minutes, both teams settled for a scoreless draw.

Grades

Marko Drobnjakovic/Associated Press

Tottenham Hotspur, Overall: B-

Spurs won all six of their Europa League group games last season by a combined score of 15-2. Thursday's draw means Mauricio Pochettino's side won't replicate that record, but taking a point on the road in a hostile atmosphere is still a commendable result.

This was not a vintage performance, but it should be noted that Spurs left a number of key players—captain Younes Kaboul, Emmanuel Adebayor, Mousa Dembele and Danny Rose—at home. In addition, Christian Eriksen played no part, remaining on the bench throughout the 90 minutes.

Even without those players, Tottenham dominated possession in the first half, though they failed to create many clear chances. In the second half, substitutes Erik Lamela, Roberto Soldado and Etienne Capoue didn't have much impact, and Spurs finished without a single shot on target.

Overall, it's a good result for Tottenham, though also a somewhat disappointing performance.

Danko Lazovic, Partizan Belgrade: B

Lazovic's movement created problems for Tottenham's defence throughout the match. The Partizan forward came close to scoring in the first half, when Vertonghen blocked his close-range shot, and again in the second, when Lloris saved (Lazovic was ruled offside on the latter chance).

Ultimately, Lazovic was unable to break through against Tottenham's defence, but he was a handful for the visitors all night.

Post-Match Reaction