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Champions League | Group Stage
Sep 14, 2016 at 7.45pm UK
 
Monaco

1-2

FT(HT: 1-2)
Silva (15'), Lemar (31')

Live Commentary: Tottenham Hotspur 1-2 AS Monaco - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's live coverage of AS Monaco's 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League.
2

Tottenham Hotspur have slumped to a 2-1 defeat to AS Monaco in their opening match of this year's Champions League.

Bernardo Silva and Thomas Lemar put Monaco into a two-goal advantage within 31 minutes before a header from Toby Alderweireld gave Spurs hope.

However, they were unable to find an equaliser in the second half and aside from one Harry Kane chance, the Ligue 1 outfit were able to comfortably see out the win.

Read below to see how the action unfolded at Wembley Stadium.


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Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the Champions League encounter between Tottenham Hotspur and AS Monaco.

Just 24 hours after a North London outfit went toe-to-toe with a Ligue 1 side, it's time for the other team from that part of England's capital to face a French club. However, while Arsenal would have been delighted with their point away at Paris Saint-Germain, Spurs will be eager to register a win against in-form Monaco, who could cause a surprise in this group.

While Spurs were battling it out for the Premier League title last season, it has been as many as five years since they last experienced Champions League action. During that campaign, they made it through to the quarter-finals as they overcame AC Milan before falling victim to a dominant Real Madrid. All things considered, Mauricio Pochettino would probably take a last-eight appearance if it were to be offered to him but there is plenty of ambition in this Spurs setup to establish themselves among Europe's elite now that they have returned to the big time.

Anyway, without further ado, let's take a look at the team news...

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR XI: Lloris; Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Davies; Dier, Alli; Lamela, Eriksen, Son; Kane

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR SUBSTITUTES: Vorm, Trippier, Carter-Vickers, Wanyama, Dembele, Sissoko, Janssen

The main news coming out of the Spurs changing room is the absence of Victor Wanyama, who has dropped down to the substitutes' bench with Erik Lamela taking his place. It's a bold move from Pochettino. As expected, Ben Davies plays instead of the injured Danny Rose while Mousa Dembele and Moussa Sissoko are notable inclusions on the bench.

AS MONACO XI: Subasic, Fabinho, Raggi, Glik, Jemerson, Sidibe, Bakayoko, Dirar, Moutinho, Silva, Falcao

AS MONACO SUBSTITUTES: De Sanctis, Germain, Traore, Lemar, Jean, Diallo, Toure

You probably don't need me to point out the main talking point, do you?

After returning to Monaco after two desperately disappointing years in the Premier League with Manchester United and Chelsea, Radamel Falcao starts in attack. He made a 25-minute appearance off the bench at the weekend but he has been entrusted with the responsibility of leading the line by Leonardo Jardim as he looks to help the forward back to form.


The other two teams in this group are Bayer Leverkusen and CSKA Moscow. Despite being the group's top seeds, CSKA are considered as the outsiders to qualify for the last 16 but you get the feeling that every result will be important. Every team is capable of beating the other and it may be a case where nine or 10 points will be enough to progress through to the knockout stages.

It's a rare occurrence but these two teams actually played each other last season in the Europa League. The first game took place at the start of October with a late goal from Stephan El Shaarawy earning Monaco a share of the spoils but in the reverse fixture in December, a hat-trick from Lamela secured a comfortable 4-1 win for Spurs.

Wembley Way is usually a sea of white when England are playing but there's a different feel to it with Spurs in town.



While he broke his poor run in front of goal on Saturday, this is a big night for Harry Kane. With Vincent Janssen waiting in the wings, the club's talisman needs to start firing on all cylinders. His goal against Stoke City won't necessarily fill him with any extra confidence because it was a finish that required one touch rather than the two he took, just to make sure, but he needs to start to rely on his natural instinct again. He has scored nine goals in 16 European games but he only managed two in seven last season so that's only adds to the 23-year-old being keen to prove a point tonight.

As for Monaco, Manchester United fans will get to see what they missed out on as Fabinho lines up for the visitors. The Brazilian has been very impressive since linking up with the two-time runners-up in this competition and it resulted in United holding a strong interest in securing his signature. However, he has since penned a long-term deal at his current club so his admirers at Old Trafford will have to look elsewhere.

With just over 10 minutes to go, it's time for a prediction...

PREDICTION! It's difficult to see either team running away with it and a score draw would come as no surprise. However, we are going to back Spurs to nick a late goal to run out 2-1 winners at Wembley.

For any Spurs fans worried about my prediction, I correctly said that Arsenal would score a late equaliser to draw 1-1 against PSG last night. Just putting that out there...

Here come the two teams to what is supposed to be a sell-out crowd but we look some way from that. That said, it promises to be an excellent atmosphere this evening and Spurs are going to have to feed off that to come through this match.

Monaco get us underway.

A wonderful flick from Kane releases Walker down the right flank but he can only win a corner for his side. Lamela's delivery from the resulting set piece is poor but early encouragement for the English team.

SUBSTITUTION! Huge blow for Monaco. Dirar has been forced to leave the pitch with an injury and Lemar is on his place.

Fabinho appears to run into Davies to win a foul for his side but the referee has brought it. The ball comes in from the right flank but fortunately for Spurs, it only reaches the first man and they are able to clear.

CHANCE! Without speaking too soon, Spurs look excellent on the break. Once again, Kane pops up on the right flank and delivers a wonderful ball towards the back post for Son. His shot appears to be heading for the bottom corner but Raggi gets back to clear inside the six-yard box.

LATEST! We remain level here but both Leicester City and Manchester City lead against Club Brugge and Borussia Monchengladbach respectively. It's been an excellent start for the Premier League clubs.

Kane gets the better of the defender down the right before bursting into the penalty area. He manages to pick out Ali but the midfielder is soon crowded out, However, there's been a goal...

GOAL! Tottenham Hotspur 0-1 AS Monaco (Silva)

Completely against the run of play, Monaco have the lead! Lamela conceded possession in the middle of the park and it allowed Bernando Silva to burst forward. After moving past Davies and onto his left foot, he fired a venomous effort into the bottom corner from just inside the penalty area. Spurs have work to do here.

SHOT! Lamela seems keen to atone for his error and he manages to force a decent save out of Subasic. His left-footed strike was heading towards the bottom corner but it lacked the pace to beat the goalkeeper.

We are only a quarter of the way into this game and Spurs are already starting to get frustrated. The feeling is shared by the supporters too. It's needless really because they have been the better team but as I have mentioned, there is work to do here. Monaco look a decent outfit.

Much of Spurs' work is coming down the right. I've mentioned the positions that Kane has been finding himself in but Walker is also making plenty of headway down the same flank. They are going to need to continue stretching Monaco if they are to make it easier for themselves in the final third.

Better from the North Londoners who put together a move that releases Kane through on goal. However, that kind of pass does not utilise the best attributes of Kane and he is quickly sounded out by the defender.

GOAL! Tottenham Hotspur 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur (Lemar)

This is turning into a nightmare for Spurs! Again, against the run of play, they concede a goal to a Monaco side who are growing in confidence. Spurs were unable to clear a cross from the left and the ball fell invitingly for Lemar, who lashed an unstoppable volley into the roof of the net from close range. It's a long way back from here...

CHANCE! Monaco comes within inches of making it 3-0! After Kane is booked for a late challenge, a free kick is whipped into the centre of the penalty area where Glik flicks a header marginally wide of the post. Spurs need half time.

Spurs were comfortably the better team during the opening stages but they are struggling for ideas now. Pochettino will surely regret leaving out Wanyama. It was such a bold move for an opening fixture in the Champions League.

Son has barely featured in this game since his early shot that was cleared off the line but he's just attempted a similar effort. Unfortunately for the South Korean, a defender gets a block in and the ball rolls through to Subasic.

The first half is starting to peter out. Spurs are having most of the possession but there's a reluctance to commit too many men forward. They cannot afford to fall further behind. It's going to take some team talk from Pochettino to turn this around.

GOAL! Tottenham Hotspur 1-2 AS Monaco (Alderweireld)

Lifeline for Spurs! After Kane wins a corner for his side, Lamela whips a terrific delivery onto the head of Alderweireld, who directs a bullet header into the top corner from eight yards. I'm not sure how he managed to get so much power on that but that was the key reason why it beat Subasic.

HALF TIME: Tottenham Hotspur 1-2 AS Monaco

The half-time whistle goes at Wembley Stadium and out of nowhere, we have a game on our hands! In truth, Spurs deserve to still be in this game but it was starting to get away from them. We'll be back in just under 15 minutes to see if they can continue the comeback in the second half.

Spurs get us back underway at Wembley.

SAVE! Spurs have started this second half on the front foot and they almost equalise through a stunning volley from Alli, with Subasic having to back-track to tip the ball over the crossbar. At the break, Dembele has replaced Son.

BOOKING! Alli is playing further forward now and he is causing all kinds of problems. A sharp turn from the midfielder has just resulted in a foul from Glik, who deservedly goes into the book.

Monaco have just spent a minute or so in the Spurs half but the English side are now back in possession of the ball. I think this pattern of play is going to be the common theme this half. Monaco are happy to drop deep and allow Spurs to pass it around in the middle of the pitch.

Well that was interesting. As Spurs are preparing to take a corner, Fabinho pulls down Alli and the referee awards the Monaco player a yellow card. Spurs think they have been given a penalty but with the ball not in play, play correctly continues with the corner.

Spurs are starting to rack up the corners now. It was how they halved the deficit in the first half but they are struggling to create any opportunities from the set pieces in this half. They are piling the pressure on, however. Will it pay off?

Spurs' work-rate in this second half is phenomenal. They aren't giving Monaco a moment to think but they have to be careful that they don't tire themselves out. Pochettino will have to use his substitutes wisely with Sissoko and Janssen likely to be introduced sooner rather than later.

Dembele is playing like a man possessed. It's no wonder given his long-term absence through suspension for that eye gouge on Diego Costa at the end of last season. Spurs are a different side with him in it.

CHANCE! Falcao has had a few neat touches here and there but he's had to wait 68 minutes for his first effort on goal. It comes from a cross from the left but his header goes miles over the crossbar.

SUBSTITUTION! Pochettino turns to Janssen, who is introduced into the action in place of Lamela.

There's just 15 minutes remaining in this game and time is starting to run out for Spurs. Kane just had a small opening inside the area but his shot was easily blocked by the defender.

Walker surges down the right flank and his cross into the box just evades Kane after an intervention from a defender. The ball falls to Kane on the edge of the area but his curler towards the far corner is predictable and Subasic barely has to move.

CHANCE! Janssen blatantly fouls the defender but the referee waves play on and the Dutchman is able to get the ball to Kane. However, the forward hits his shot straight at Subasic from 12 yards. It's been one of those games...

SUBSTITUTION! Pochettino makes his final change with Sissoko replacing Dier. For Monaco, Falcao is off for Germain.

You have to wonder whether Spurs' chance went with that Kane opening. It's been all Monaco over the last few minutes and they are doing an excellent job of running down the clock.

There will be three minutes of added-on time. Plenty of Spurs fans are already making for the exits.

Vertonghen glances a header wide although it was lacking the pace to beat Subasic. That could be that.

FULL TIME: Tottenham Hotspur 1-2 AS Monaco

The full-time whistle goes at Wembley and Monaco have held on to register an impressive win over Spurs. That's certainly not how the North Londoners would have hoped to start the group stages.

In the other game in this group, Bayer Leverkusen and CSKA Moscow played out a 2-2 draw so there's at least some consolation for Spurs that the result in Germany went their way.

That will be all from Sports Mole for this game. Thank you for joining us tonight and we hope to see you again for the Europa League tomorrow evening. Goodbye for now.

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Monaco's Portuguese midfielder Joao Moutinho celebrates a goal during the Champions League football match Monaco (ASM) vs Bayer Leverkusen on September 16, 2014
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