Richarlison off the Mark as Spurs Beat Marseille

Wednesday 7th September 2022 - 8:00pm

Match Report

Tottenham Hotspur 2 – 0 Olympique de Marseille

Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London

Competition: UEFA Champions League Group, Group D

"Pre-Match Thoughts – Finally, Champions League football returns to the home of Tottenham Hotspur. The atmosphere's sure to be electric around the place, let's hope the performance on the pitch matches it and we get off to a strong start against French Ligue 1 high-flyers Marseille.

They've won 5 of their 6 games so far this season, and will be equally as up for the occasion as us, so it's going to be a tricky one.

I think we'll edge it 2-1."

Just the one change from the team that started against Fulham at the weekend with the experienced Perišić coming in at left wing-back for Sessegnon.

It was an anxious opening 20 minutes with the bulk of play taking place in the middle of the pitch and attacks falling at the final hurdle with misplaced passes or interceptions.

Marseille bought a brilliant travelling support and their team were clearly being driven on by them as a lot of the half was spent around Spurs' penalty area. We defended strongly and prevented any clear-cut chances, but when in possession we looked nervous and kept giving it straight back to them. It was partly down to Marseille rapidly closing us down whenever we were on the ball.

40' Richarlison received it in the centre circle and found Son ahead of him. Two-on-two, he twisted and turned to tease the defender before nudging it right to Kane just inside the area to finish off. Unfortunately Kane couldn't find the right opening past the defender and dragged his finish across goal and wide.

45'+1' Lloris was tested by a Guendouzi effort from long range that he got down to his right to keep out.

"Thoughts at Half-Time – A really tough half for Spurs. It seems like there's no space out there and we've really struggled to get a hold of it. Marseille have closed us down superbly though, hopefully they tire in the second half. Conte's usually good at sorting things out at half-time too, so fingers crossed we come out much improved. I'd like to see Kulusevski out there and our home support getting behind the team more."

47' Højbjerg got a hold of it just inside our half and found Son who played it to Kane, he played it forward first time to set Son racing away into space, who beat the last defender to the ball before being taken out with a slide tackle on the edge of the area. He was last man so the ref drew for a red card. Marseille down to ten.

61' Conte was clearly going all out for the 3 points as he used his first substitution to bring Kulusevski on for Royal at right wing-back.

64' Kulusevski looked to make an immediate impact and carried the ball down the right wing then all the way along the byline to the near post where he tried to squeeze it in but the keeper smothered it out from his feet for a corner.

The red card actually made it tough for Spurs as it became a complete backs to the wall job for Marseille with time wasting going on left right and centre and them stacking 11 men behind the ball. It became frustrating fast and it needed more action from the referee.

74' Marseille broke on a rare attack and slid a ball dangerously across our 6 yard box that thankfully no attacker managed to meet before it came to Perišić who cleared.

76' GOAL! Ben Davies came forward with it and found Perišić down the left side. He cut back to the top corner of the box and delivered a peach of a cross to Richarlison in space around the penalty spot who generated excellent power on the header to ensure it beat the goalkeeper's glove and flew into the top of the net. 1-0.

81' GOAL! Pandemonium in the stands as Richarlison scores with his head again! This time Højbjerg sent a long diagonal cross in from the left side and Richarlison rose behind a Marseille man to show superb technique to head it off the inside of the post and in. 2-0.

88' A corner came in and Tanganga glanced a header across goal that came close to finding the far top corner, but it fell just wide.

"Thoughts at Full-Time – A nervy night to start but it was a nice one in the end, with Richarlison not only finding his first goal in a Spurs shirt, but his second as well soon after. All in all a strong start to the group and a successful night at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. It doesn't get any easier, City away on Saturday."

Tottenham Player Ratings

• 1. Hugo Lloris – 6 – Had a nervy moment in the first half where he punched it up in the air under no pressure. Made a decent save on the brink of half time. Didn't have much to do in the second half.

• 17. Cristian Romero – 5.5 – Had some rusty moments in the first half but improved in the second. Sprayed a lovely diagonal pass out to Perišić at one point and helped put pressure on from the back once Marseille were reduced to ten. Maybe lacking fitness as he was subbed with twenty to go.

• 15. Eric Dier – 6 – Kept things tight at the back under heavy pressure in the first half. Stayed on throughout and kept a clean sheet.

• 34. Clément Lenglet – 5.5 – Composed on the ball at times. Not quite as impressive on the whole as he was on his first start at the weekend though.

• 12. Emerson Royal – 5 – Did well to recover for Romero in the first half. Constantly in space on the right side but it's becoming increasingly obvious that teams are leaving him open as he rarely delivers in the final third.

• 30. Rodrigo Bentancur – 6.5 – Struggled to get a hold of it in the first half. Reverted to his cool calm self in the second when he had more space to operate in.

• 5. Pierre-Emile Højbjerg – 7 – Also had a tough job on his hands getting a hold on proceedings in the first half as Marseille dominated. Improved in the second half and supplied an excellent cross that Richarlison headed home for the second goal.

• 14. Ivan Perišić – 7.5 – The Champions League veteran brought into the side as expected and played the full 90. So good at getting his crosses in and delivered the crucial one that found Richarlison to break the deadlock.

• 9. Richarlison – 9 – Wasn't as impressive as he's been so far in the first half, but certainly came up with the goods in the second by scoring two brilliant headed goals that won us the tie. Heart-warming to see how much it meant to him in his celebrations and he was in tears at the end. What a player we've signed.

• 7. Son Heung-min – 5 – It's difficult putting down Sonny but he just can't seem to get going this season. Seemed to be on the up again in the Fulham match, but he wasn't good again tonight. Sloppy in possession giving the ball away a number of times and not releasing passes soon enough. Perhaps could have been a different story had he not been hacked down early in the second half that led to the red card.

• 10. Harry Kane – 6.5 – Looked up for it from the start but unfortunately we spent most of the first half on the back foot. Played some nice passes but clearly desperate to grab a goal. Couldn't find the right openings and connections on his shots though.

Substitutions:

• 12. Emerson Royal ⬅ 61' ➡21. Dejan Kulusevski – 7 – I'm sure many fans were crying out for him and even being brought on at right wing-back he was quick to make an impact with our attacking thrust. Both goals arrived after his introduction.

• 17. Cristian Romero ⬅ 73' ➡ 25. Japhet Tanganga – 6 – Nice to see him given his first run-out of the season. Didn't have a lot to do but had a header towards goal that fell just wide.

• 34. Clément Lenglet ⬅ 73' ➡ 33. Ben Davies – 7 – Found Perišić before he produced the cross to set up the first goal. Tremendous piece of defending at the end to put his body on the line and deny them scoring at the last to protect our goal difference.

• 30. Rodrigo Bentancur ⬅ 85' ➡ 38. Yves Bissouma – N/A – Came on to see out the final few minutes.

• 7. Son Heung-min ⬅ 86' ➡ 2. Matt Doherty – N/A – His first appearance of the season. Didn't have much time to make an impact though, did get a shot in that deflected wide.

Man of the Match – 9. Richarlison