Overview
- Atlético raced 3-0 ahead inside 15 minutes after two Antonín Kinský errors, and the 22-year-old debutant was replaced by Guglielmo Vicario before the 17-minute mark.
- Julián Álvarez struck twice, with Marcos Llorente, Antoine Griezmann and Robin Le Normand also scoring; Pedro Porro and Dominic Solanke replied for Tottenham.
- Diego Simeone’s team carry a commanding 5-2 advantage into the March 18 return leg at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
- Igor Tudor said he substituted Kinský “to help him” and admitted his pregame goalkeeper choice “was not the right decision,” while Simeone remarked he had never seen such an early keeper change.
- The loss compounds Tottenham’s poor domestic run a point above the relegation zone, with English outlets questioning Tudor’s future as Cristian Romero returned to captain the side.