Atletico Madrid thrash Tottenham as Premier League clubs falter in Europe
Tottenham Hotspur suffered a humiliating 5-2 defeat to Atletico Madrid to compound a disastrous week for Premier League clubs in the Champions League round of 16.
Igor Tudor’s side capitulated inside the opening 25 minutes in the Spanish capital.
The heavy loss leaves the north London outfit facing near-certain elimination from Europe’s premier club competition.
It also deepens a domestic crisis that sees them hovering perilously close to the English top-flight relegation zone.
English struggles across the continent
Spurs were not the only English side to endure a miserable first-leg experience.
Manchester City face an uphill battle after suffering a comprehensive 3-0 defeat against Real Madrid.
Manager Pep Guardiola has already admitted his reigning champions have little hope of overturning the deficit.
Elsewhere, Paris St-Germain proved too strong for Chelsea, while Arsenal relied on Kai Havertz to salvage their fixture.
Mounting pressure on Tudor
The spotlight remains firmly fixed on Tottenham following their complete collapse in Madrid.
Individual errors from Micky van de Ven and goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky highlighted a defensively fragile performance.
The Croatian manager is yet to secure a single victory this calendar year.
Not a week goes by without something absolutely horrific happening to Tottenham. Tudor, meanwhile, has been a genuine disaster.
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The club hierarchy, led by chief executive Vinai Venkatesham, are now facing intense scrutiny over their recent boardroom decisions.
Bayern march on
While the English contingents floundered, other European heavyweights demonstrated their title credentials.
Vincent Kompany’s Bayern Munich practically guaranteed their quarter-final spot with a ruthless 6-1 thrashing of Atalanta.
