Monaco 0-0 Tottenham: Subpar Spurs fortunate to escape with point in dodgy Champions League display

Another draw for north Londoners on the continent

Your matchday briefing on Tottenham, featuring team news and expert analysis from Matt Verri

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Tottenham clung on for a goalless draw on a testing evening for them against Monaco in the Champions League .

Thomas Frank’s side were under the cosh for much of their third game back at Europe’s top table, and they had their goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario to thank on countless occasions as the hosts peppered the visiting goal.

Sebastien Pocognoli, making his home debut as Monaco boss, saw his side take the game to their Premier League opponents, and former Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun had three golden opportunities to open the scoring in the first half.

All three times he was denied by Vicario, who was alive in the second period as well to save Spurs’ blushes.

Takumi Minamino, the ex-Liverpool forward, also had three chances to net a late winner as the Frenchmen continued their barrage, while Maghnes Akliouche and Ansu Fati buzzed dangerously in the pockets as free-roaming No10s.

Xavi Simons, dropped to the bench by Frank, came on but had little impact in a disjointed Spurs performance where they offered nothing in the final third, with Philipp Kohn in the home net hardly having to make a save.

Micky Van de Ven came closest as he nodded over from close range in the opening 45 minutes, but that was as far as Frank’s side came as they ground out a point that they will be mightily relieved to have escaped with.