Tottenham 0 Bayer Leverkusen 1: Wembley Champions League setback leaves Spurs winless in six games

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Tom Collomosse2 November 2016

Tottenham face a huge task to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League after suffering their sixth consecutive defeat at Wembley.

Kevin Kampl’s second-half goal was enough to give Bayer Leverkusen a 1-0 victory in front of 85,512 at the national stadium – a record attendance for a fixture involving an English club in this country. A pity that Tottenham could not deliver the performance to match, even though Eric Dier hit the bar with a free-kick late on. They left the field to some boos from a disappointed crowd.

Tottenham have not won since they beat Manchester City 2-0 at White Hart Lane exactly a month ago. On Sunday, they travel to Emirates Stadium for the first north London derby of the season, for which Arsenal are now clear favourites.

If they lose at Monaco later this month, and Leverkusen defeat CSKA Moscow, Tottenham will have no chance of reaching the last 16 of this competition. Manager Mauricio Pochettino will be desperate for key players Harry Kane and Toby Alderweireld to return from injury, while another, Mousa Dembele, was taken off after only half an hour here.

Leverkusen were smarter on the ball and sharper in their movement. Admir Mehmedi, Julian Brandt and Javier Hernandez swapped positions frequently, making them extremely difficult to mark.

In the early stages, Spurs attempted to attack down the right, but Moussa Sissoko wasted good positions with poor crosses. The Frenchman was restored to the side but knew he would miss the Arsenal game as he completes a three-match domestic ban.

Vincent Janssen was dropped from the starting XI for this one but he was brought on after 30 minutes. Dembele, who appeared to be moving uneasily, was substituted, and had a discussion with Pochettino on the touchline before walking to the bench.

For all their superiority, Leverkusen were struggling to create clear chances. They would, however, have taken the lead in the 43rd minute were it not for Jan Vertonghen’s superb defending.

After Kyle Walker was robbed by Brandt, Vertonghen tackled the young attacker as he prepared to shoot, and then recovered to block Javier Hernandez’s follow-up.

In first-half stoppage time, Dele Alli had a goal ruled out for a foul by Janssen in the build-up but it would have been more than Spurs deserved.

The home team started the second half positively. Alli believed he should have had a penalty when he fell under pressure from Omer Toprak, before Christian Eriksen sent the loose ball just wide from 20 yards.

Walker, increasingly Spurs’ most potent threat, charged forward from halfway on the hour mark, taking three defenders with him. It was a thrilling burst that lacked the finish it deserved, as Walker guided an angled shot just past the far post.

Leverkusen came even closer a minute later, as Vertonghen bailed out Tottenham again. This time Eric Dier was at fault, conceding possession to Mehmedi, who pulled the ball back to Hernandez.

AFP/Getty Images

Vertonghen blocked the first shot and then Hugo Lloris fell on the rebound. Sadly for Spurs, neither man could stop Kampl giving Leverkusen the lead. A minute earlier, Sissoko had squandered another promising situation; Leverkusen would show no such mercy.

Charles Aranguiz’s effort from outside the penalty area deflected off Ben Davies. Stretching to cut out the ball, Walker could only divert it into the path of Kampl, who finished with ease.

Pochettino’s response was to take off Eriksen – who had been disappointing again – and send on Harry Winks. A youngster taking his first steps at this level, instead of one of the club’s best-paid players. It was an eloquent comment on what Pochettino thought of some of his senior men.

In the final 10 minutes, Spurs came closer. After Alli had been fouled 25 yards from goal, Dier curled the free-kick against the bar and Janssen – three yards out – could not convert, Toprak clearing the ball from close to the goal line.

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