Tottenham Hotspur are still in the mix for automatic qualification in the Champions League, but it was Guglielmo Vicario’s standout performance against AS Monaco that stole the headlines on Wednesday night.
Thomas Frank’s men managed to secure a draw against AS Monaco in matchday three of the league phase of the Champions League.
That result now means that Spurs have picked up five points from their opening three games, leaving them in fifteenth place and seven spots off the automatic qualification places.
However, with five games still left to play and just one point separating Tottenham in fifteenth and Newcastle United in eighth, Frank’s men remain within striking distance of a qualification place.
Guglielmo Vicario shines for Tottenham against Monaco
Of course, Tottenham fans would have wanted all three points against AS Monaco, but it was not to be.
Guglielmo Vicario was the hero for Tottenham last night and could easily have been named Man of the Match given his outstanding goalkeeping display.
In truth, based on the run of play, Monaco could easily have taken all three points given the quality of chances they created and the sustained pressure they applied throughout the match.
Vicario’s numbers told the full story of a player rediscovering his best form after criticism from sections of the Tottenham fanbase in recent weeks.
The Italian goalkeeper finished the night with a 9.4 rating on FotMob, making eight crucial saves, including four diving stops and one high claim, while preventing 2.68 goals.
All eight of his saves came from inside the box, highlighting just how relentless Monaco’s attacking threat was and how vital Vicario’s contribution proved to be in securing the point.
He also became the first-ever Italian with a perfect Sofascore Rating in a UEFA Champions League match, having been given a ten out of ten rating for his heroics last night.
Spurs must improve their overall play
Vicario’s performance was truly impressive, but the overall display from Frank’s men would continue to raise a few eyebrows.
Monaco dominated Spurs, and Vicario was forced to prevent 2.68 goals in a single match. To put that into context, in the Premier League, Vicario has prevented 2.9 goals this season, which remains a league high.
This simply shows that while Tottenham managed to come away with a clean sheet, they allowed far too many clear-cut chances in a single tie and, on another day, could easily have been punished.
Just as in attack, it will not be sustainable to score goals without creating enough chances; it will also not be sustainable to keep picking up results in this fashion if they continue to give away such dangerous opportunities.
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