โช ๐ฆ๐ฃ๐จ๐ฅ๐ฆ ๐ฆ๐๐ฉ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ก ๐๐ก๐ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ฃ๐๐ฅ๐ฉ๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ฅ! ๐๏ธ ๐ง๐ต๐ผ๐บ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ป๐ธ ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ป๐ ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฅ๐ผ๐ผ๐บ ๐ฎ๐ ๐ง๐ผ๐๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ต๐ฎ๐บ ๐๐ถ๐๐บ๐ฎ๐ป๐๐น๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐บ๐๐ป๐ฑ! ๐๏ธ๐ฅ
By 247sportcity | Wednesday, January 21, 2026
NORTH LONDON โ In a night where the stakes couldn’t have been higher, Thomas Frank orchestrated a tactical masterclass to keep his job as Tottenham Hotspur swept aside Borussia Dortmund with a dominant 2-0 victory. Just days after a crushing home defeat to West Ham had fans calling for his head, Frankโs depleted squadโmissing 13 senior starsโproduced their most cohesive performance of the season to move into fourth place in the Champions League table.
The Tactical Gamble: Djed Spence at Left-Wing?
Facing an injury crisis of “unprecedented proportions,” Thomas Frank pulled a rabbit out of the hat. With no natural wingers fit, he deployed Djed Spence on the left flank. The “strange plot twist” paid off handsomely, as Spence terrorized the Dortmund backline, providing one of the most electric wing performances seen at the stadium this year.
The game also saw the long-awaited return of Dominic Solanke to the starting lineup, a move that restored the “missing link” in Spursโ attacking hold-up play.
Match Summary: First Half Blitz
- 15th Minute:ย The deadlock was broken by captainย Cristian Romero, who prodded home from close range after a Pedro Porro corner caused chaos in the Dortmund box.
- The Red Card:ย Dortmundโs task became a mountain to climb whenย Daniel Svenssonย was sent off for a reckless stud-up challenge on Wilson Odobert.
- 35th Minute:ย Spurs capitalized instantly. Odobert turned provider, firing a low cross thatย Dominic Solankeย bundled over the lineโa “scruffy” goal that felt like a weight lifting off the striker’s shoulders.
Match Summary: Second Half Control
The second half was a professional exercise in game management. While Dortmund enjoyed more possession, they failed to register a single shot to trouble Guglielmo Vicario. The highlight for the home crowd was the senior debut of 17-year-old Junai Byfield, who looked entirely at home on the European stage after replacing the injured Lucas Bergvall.
[Table: Tottenham Player Ratings โ Champions League Night]
| Player | Rating | Key Takeaway |
| Cristian Romero | 9.0 | A true captain’s display; scored for the 2nd game running. |
| Xavi Simons | 8.5 | The “European Animal”; created chances at will. |
| Djed Spence | 8.5 | The shock LW experiment was a total success. |
| Wilson Odobert | 8.5 | Two assists and won the red card for his team. |
| Archie Gray | 8.0 | Controlled the pivot with elite line-breaking passes. |
| Dominic Solanke | 8.0 | Goal aside, his link-up play was vital for the structure. |
The “Unbeaten” Fortress: Spurs in Europe
This result didn’t just save a manager; it protected a legacy. Tottenham have now extended their five-year unbeaten home record in European competition. Sitting comfortably in the Champions League top eight, behind only Arsenal, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich, Spurs are looking like genuine contenders for the crown.
Whatโs Next?
Thomas Frank has bought himself time, but the “axe” hasn’t been put away just yet. Spurs face Burnley on Saturday, where anything less than a victory will likely bring the rumors of unrest back to the surface. For one night, however, the North London air was filled with hope rather than toxicity.