- Sport
- Football
Atletico Madrid 5-2 Tottenham: Kinsky is subbed within 17 minutes as Spurs ship four first-half goals in Champions League last-16 demolition
Flo Clifford Wednesday 11 March 2026 00:00 GMT- Bookmark
- CommentsGo to comments
Bookmark popover
Removed from bookmarks
Close popover
(Action Images via Reuters)
Get the Adam Clery Football Column. A newsletter that unpacks the absurdities and oddities of the beautiful game
The ACFC newsletter: unpacking football’s absurdities
Unpack football’s oddities with the ACFC newsletter
Email*SIGN UPI would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice
Tottenham Hotspur suffered a dismal demolition at the hands of Atletico Madrid in their Champions League last-16 first leg tie, with Igor Tudor’s side slipping to a 5-2 loss after a remarkable opening 22 minutes in Madrid.
The visitors found themselves a goal down within six minutes after a slip from Antonin Kinsky allowed Marcos Llorente to open the scoring, and the hosts had a second not long later when Micky van de Ven slipped to allow Antoine Griezmann in to slide in an accomplished finish.
It looked bleak for Spurs already but it only got worse moments later when Kinsky scuffed a pass into the path of Julian Alvarez, who tapped in to an open net for 3-0.
The drama continued as Tudor made the decision to withdraw Kinsky in favour of Guglielmo Vicario, but the substitution made no difference as Robin Le Normand nodded in a fourth for the hosts within 22 minutes.
Spurs had the chance to get back in it after Pedro Porro pulled one back but the hosts added a fifth in the second half as Alvarez secured a brace, and while Dominic Solanke’s late goal gives his side hope, the hosts look like they need a miracle if they want to get anything out of next week’s second leg.
Follow all the reaction from Atletico v Tottenham below:
Recommended
Tottenham’s Antonin Kinsky replaced after letting in three goals in 17 minutes on disastrous Champions League debut
The unanswered Liverpool question that will define Arne Slot’s reign
What the FA Cup reveals about English clubs in Europe
Atletico v Tottenham | Champions League live
- Atletico beat Tottenham 5-2 in Champions league last-16 first leg tie
- 76' GOAL! Solanke gives Spurs late lifeline [ATM 5-2 TOT]
- 55' GOAL! Alvarez grabs brace after superb Griezmann assist [ATM 5-1 TOT]
- 26' GOAL! Porro pulls one back for visitors [ATM 4-1 TOT]
- 22' GOAL! Le Normand bundles in fourth [ATM 4-0 TOT]
- 17' SUB! Kinsky subbed off after mistakes [ATM 3-0 TOT]
- 15' GOAL! Alvarez taps into empty net after Kinsky error [ATM 3-0 TOT]
- 14' GOAL! Griezmann punishes van de Ven mistake [ATM 2-0 TOT]
- 6' GOAL! Llorente fires in after Kinsky mistake [ATM 1-0 TOT]
Tottenham lose their balance, the ball and all remaining dignity in abject defeat to Atletico
If nothing else, Tottenham Hotspur succeeded in putting the mad into Madrid. And yet there may be a sliver of a chance the craziest bit is still to come. In the meltdown in the Metropolitano, Spurs appeared to knock themselves out of the Champions League in 22 strange, shocking minutes. An hour later, Dominic Solanke’s goal might have offered a lifeline to a team seemingly with a death wish. A triumphant comeback next week went from impossible to merely improbable.
Because Tottenham could be grateful they leave Spain only beaten 5-2. They seemed to turn up in the wrong boots, with the wrong goalkeeper and the wrong manager. They gifted Atletico Madrid an assortment of ridiculous goals, the first three each sillier than the last, the fifth with a hole where their defence was supposed to be. A team with a capacity for slip-ups took it literally, losing their balance, the ball, their dignity and, probably, their place in the Champions League. Their manager may lose his job.
Tottenham lose all remaining dignity in abject defeat to Atletico as Tudor faces axe
Atletico Madrid 5-2 Tottenham: Kinsky was subbed within 17 minutes as utterly hapless Spurs shipped four first-half goals in Champions League last-16 demolitionRead moreChris Wilson10 March 2026 23:03Champions League fixures
And here’s what tomorrow has in store for us then:
Bayer Leverkusen vs Arsenal
PSG vs Chelsea
Real Madrid vs Man City
Bodo/Glimt vs Sporting CP
Chris Wilson11 March 2026 00:00Champions League reports
You can read what happened in this evening’s other games by following the links below:
Galatasaray 1-0 Liverpool
Newcastle 1-1 Barcelona
Atalanta 1-6 Bayern Munich
Chris Wilson10 March 2026 23:50McManaman: 'When it’s bad, say it’s bad'
“He was spiky yesterday before the game. You would have though the Champions League was a bit of a respite, a breath of fresh air,” says McManaman on Tudor.
“And again he hasn’t helped himself today, he should be there fronting up. He’s the one who needs to front up, he’s the one who’s getting paid.
“When it’s bad, say it’s bad, apologise, say ‘I’m sorry’, and have this air of positivity. We understand it was bad luck today, and you’re right, Romero and Palhinha getting concussion, everything is just piling up.
“But he knew that, he was brought in when they were in a dire position. The fact that he’s made them more dire is on him,” added the former Liverpool midfielder.
Chris Wilson10 March 2026 23:40Pundits criticise Igor Tudor after Tottenham manager withdraws Kinsky early in crushing Atletico loss
Tottenham Hotspur manager Igor Tudor has come under criticism for his decision-making and reactions after his side’s dismal 5-2 loss to Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.
The former Juventus manager made the decision to start substitute goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky for the first leg at the Metropolitano, though his choice quickly backfired as the 22-year-old made an early mistake to gift the hosts the opener before a slip a few minutes later allowed Julian Alvarez to tap in the third.
Pundits criticise Tudor after Spurs boss withdraws Kinsky in crushing Atletico loss
Tudor made the decision to hand Antonin Kinsky his first Champions League start but withdrew the 22-year-old after just 17 minutes with Spurs 3-0 downChris Wilson10 March 2026 23:30Igor Tudor defends decision to start Antonin Kinsky against Atletico despite disaster in Madrid
Igor Tudor insisted he made the right decision to pick Antonin Kinsky against Atletico Madrid – even as he ended up substituting the goalkeeper in the 17th minute after two horrible blunders and with Tottenham 3-0 down.
The Croatian, who replied “no comment” when asked if he deserved to remain in charge of Spurs, said he had never taken a goalkeeper off as early during his 15 years as a manager and said Kinsky apologised to the team for his mistakes.
The 22-year-old Czech was surprisingly selected ahead of usual first-choice Guglielmo Vicario, who was instead brought off the bench and conceded the last two goals in Atletico’s 5-2 win.
Tudor defends decision to start Kinsky against Atletico despite disaster in Madrid
The Croat also insisted he was there to ‘help the team’ but replied ‘no comment’ when asked if he deserved to remain in charge of SpursChris Wilson10 March 2026 23:20Hart: Spurs are 'faceless'
“We talk about Tottenham at the moment, they’re faceless, who’s in charge of it?” asks Joe Hart after seeing the comments from Igor Tudor.
“How can the man who’s been put in charge to steer them in a better direction not want to speak? What sort of message is he sending there? Did he send a message to the fans, he didn’t acknowledge them in the stadium.
“To say that you’re not willing to speak...that’s your job, you’re the coach, it’s no surprise the club are under the cosh at the moment. You need someone standing up in front of the media, re-assuring everyone, you can send message to your opponents, your players, and it’s just not being used.
“He’s almost tried to say they were unlucky tonight...that’s not the message you want to hear,” added the former City ‘keeper.
Chris Wilson10 March 2026 23:10Up next
It doesn’t get any easier for Spurs either. Here’s the list of their next fixtures:
15 March - Liverpool A
18 March - Atletico Madrid H
22 March - Nottingham Forest H
12 April - Sunderland A
18 April - Brighton H
Chris Wilson10 March 2026 22:55Tottenham’s Antonin Kinsky replaced after letting in three goals in 17 minutes on disastrous Champions League debut
Tottenham keeper Antonin Kinsky was replaced just 17 minutes into his side’s Champions League last-16 first leg after a disastrous debut.
Head coach Igor Tudor opted to replace first-choice keeper Guglielmo Vicario with Kinsky for the first leg of their knockout tie against Atletico Madrid, despite the Czech having only made two appearances this season, both in the Carabao Cup.
It was a baptism of fire for Kinsky, who endured a torrid start in just his 13th appearance for the club, with Spurs ultimately losing 5-2 and further piling pressure on the squad and manager.
Antonin Kinsky replaced after just 17 minutes in disastrous Champions League debut
Head coach Igor Tudor is likely to face yet more questioning over his suitability for the role after starting Kinsky then replacing him after a calamitous quarter of an hour Chris Wilson10 March 2026 22:50Tudor: 'Better less talking'
Here’s what Igor Tudor had to say after the full-time whistle:
“After you see what happened, for sure it was the wrong decision. It was for me, the right decision to do, taken before, because the team changed the competition. But what happened is it, it happened,” he says on the decision to start Kinsky.
“No, we don’t need to comment, to speak too much. Strange game, we gave them three goals, and then the problems kill us. Very strange, very unusual, so it took our confidence.
“We had a good opportunity to make it 4-2, and then we concede for 5-1, 5-2. We apologise for the fans who were here.
“Everything is going wrong, small mistakes, even this situation in the end, two players out, everything is going against us.
“I need to have [confidence], need to keep working, not speaking too much, focusing on the things we can do. It’s difficult to explain, it’s the first time we see this. I’m focused, we need to stay positive.
“It’s not about me, we need to stay calm, less talking. Better less talking, now is not the moment to give big explanations, we need to stay calm and continue,” he added as he finished.
Chris Wilson10 March 2026 22:44Newer1 / 10OlderMore about
Champions LeagueTottenham HotspurIgor TudorAtletico MadridJoin our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments