Tottenham 3-0 Slavia Prague: Two penalties decided the match.

Tottenham beat Slavia Prague 3-0 in their sixth Champions League matchday in a night that began with applause for Son Heung-min and ended with coolness from the penalty spot. The opening goal came from an own goal by David Zima, before Mohammed Kudus (50') and Xavi Simons (79') both successfully converted their penalties. Thomas Frank's 4-2-3-1 formation maximized speed and depth, while Guglielmo Vicario kept a clean sheet on a day when Tottenham unleashed 16 shots, 10 of which were on target.

The crucial moment

In the 79th minute, Xavi Simons cleverly forced Ogbu to commit a foul in the penalty area before converting the penalty himself to seal a 3-0 victory. This marked the end of a second half in which Tottenham completely controlled the tempo, and Slavia offered almost no resistance after conceding the extended lead.

Main developments

Spurs reverted to a 4-2-3-1 formation instead of the 4-4-2 used in their previous defeat against PSG and immediately created a high tempo. In the very first minute, Richarlison broke through but Jindrich Stanek made an excellent save for the visitors. The left wing, with Wilson Odobert and Djed Spence, constantly exploited the space behind, while Pedro Porro pushed forward to create pressure on the opposite flank.

The first turning point came in the 26th minute: from a cross by Porro, Cristian Romero rose high to head the ball, causing David Zima to awkwardly score an own goal. This was Tottenham's third own goal in the Champions League this season, a club record in a European campaign. Despite being behind, Slavia tried to respond through Provod and Sadilek but lacked the sharpness in the final touches to beat Vicario.

Tottenham dominated the second half.

Immediately after the break, in the 48th minute, Youssoupha Sanyang handled the ball in the penalty area, gifting Spurs a penalty. Kudus calmly finished into the middle of the net in the 50th minute, doubling the lead. From then on, Slavia's morale visibly declined, and Tottenham played as they pleased: fast ball circulation, dominating the midfield and wing areas, and relentlessly bombarding Stanek's goal.

In the 79th minute, Simons sealed the 3-0 victory from the penalty spot after earning a penalty. Spurs finished the match with 16 shots, 10 of which were on target, maintaining relentless pressure on the visitors' goal.

Tactical angle: 4-2-3-1 unlocks speed.

Compared to the rigid 4-4-2 formation against PSG, the 4-2-3-1 allowed Tottenham more flexibility: the wingers pushed high, and the third line behind the striker moved freely. Thomas Frank's decision to bring Xavi Simons, Mohammed Kudus, and Odobert back into the starting lineup brought new energy to the attack. Richarlison didn't score but effectively held up the ball, stretching the central defenders to create space for attacks from the second line.

In the defensive line, the Romero-Van de Ven pairing (both yellow cards) maintained discipline to protect the penalty area while also supporting build-up play from the back. Vicario completed the rest with solid touches. Towards the end of the match, Mathys Tel came on, adding speed and skill, and unleashed a powerful shot that forced Stanek to make a save.

Professional impact

The 3-0 victory helped Tottenham solidify their chances of progressing and improve their goal difference. More importantly, Frank's tactical structure showed stability after the adjustments: effective wing play, reasonable team spacing, and lethality at crucial moments. On a night honoring Son Heung-min, the next generation of Spurs sent a convincing message on the European stage.

Score

Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 Slavia Prague

Score a goal

• Tottenham Hotspur: David Zima (own goal) 26'; Mohammed Kudus 50' (penalty); Xavi Simons 79' (penalty)