Tottenham's troubled season hit a desperate new low at the Estadio Metropolitano as Atletico Madrid swept to a 5-2 Champions League last-16 first-leg victory in one of the most extraordinary opening half-hours of recent European football. Igor Tudor's gamble to start Antonin Kinsky over Guglielmo Vicario unravelled within minutes, the 22-year-old goalkeeper hauled off after only 17 minutes with Spurs already 3-0 down.
Marcos Llorente, Antoine Griezmann, Julian Alvarez and Robin Le Normand all found the net before the 23rd minute, with three slips from Spurs players gifting the opening three goals. Pedro Porro and Dominic Solanke replied for the visitors, but Alvarez's second after the break left the Premier League side facing a three-goal deficit to overturn at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium next week.
Madcap Opening at the Metropolitano
The chaos began in the sixth minute. Cristian Romero's short goal kick left Kinsky swinging his leg, slipping and sending the ball straight to Ademola Lookman, who teed up Llorente to slot home composedly. Atletico doubled their lead soon after when Micky van de Ven also lost his footing, allowing Griezmann to run through and stroke the ball into the net.