Tottenham Hotspur secured a crucial Europa League victory on Thursday night, defeating Hoffenheim 3-2 in Germany. Son Heung-min’s brace helped Spurs move closer to securing an automatic spot in the last 16 of the tournament.
Match Summary
Spurs got off to a dream start, with Pedro Porro launching a long pass over the top to James Maddison, who controlled beautifully and finished with composure in the opening minutes.
The second goal came with a bit of luck, as Maddison’s deflected pass found Son Heung-min, whose shot also took a deflection before looping over Hoffenheim goalkeeper Oliver Baumann.
Tottenham goalkeeper Brandon Austin made a crucial save to keep the score at 2-0 before Hoffenheim started a strong second-half fightback.
Former Leicester City striker Andrej Kramaric hit the crossbar, and VAR overturned a penalty decision that was initially awarded against Austin.
The hosts eventually pulled one back through Anton Stach, but Son responded with a brilliant solo effort, using a stepover before firing a low shot into the bottom corner to restore Spurs’ two-goal advantage.
That proved to be a vital goal as David Mokwa struck late for Hoffenheim, making the final minutes tense for Spurs. However, Ange Postecoglou’s side held on for a hard-fought win.
Player Ratings
Hoffenheim (4-4-2)
| Position | Player | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| GK | Oliver Baumann (c) | 6.1/10 |
| RB | Pavel Kaderabek | 6.3/10 |
| CB | Kevin Akpoguma | 5.2/10 |
| CB | Stanley N’Soki | 6.8/10 |
| LB | David Jurasek | 6.5/10 |
| RM | Adam Hlozek | 6.3/10 |
| CM | Anton Stach | 8.0/10 |
| CM | Finn Becker | 7.3/10 |
| LM | Tom Bischof | 6.9/10 |
| ST | Andrej Kramaric | 7.3/10 |
| ST | Max Moerstedt | 6.4/10 |
| SUB | David Mokwa (78′ for Stach) | 7.2/10 |
| SUB | Arthur Chaves (80′ for Bischof) | 6.5/10 |
| SUB | Florian Micheler (81′ for Hlozek) | N/A |
| Subs not used: Luca Philipp (GK), Tim Philipp (GK), Luca Erlein, Robin Hranac, Valentin Gendrey, Hennes Behrens, Luka Djuric, Simon Kalambayi. |
Tottenham (4-3-3)
| Position | Player | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| GK | Brandon Austin | 7.7/10 |
| RB | Pedro Porro | 7.4/10 |
| CB | Radu Dragusin | 6.8/10 |
| CB | Ben Davies | 7.4/10 |
| LB | Archie Gray | 6.9/10 |
| CM | Lucas Bergvall | 7.4/10 |
| CM | Rodrigo Bentancur | 8.1/10 |
| CM | James Maddison | 8.7/10 |
| RW | Dejan Kulusevski | 6.8/10 |
| ST | Richarlison | 6.6/10 |
| LW | Son Heung-min (c) | 8.9/10 |
| SUB | Mikey Moore (56′ for Richarlison) | 6.7/10 |
| SUB | Will Lankshear (79′ for Son) | 6.2/10 |
| SUB | Callum Olusesi (89′ for Maddison) | N/A |
| Subs not used: Fraser Forster (GK), Alfie Whiteman (GK), Dante Cassanova, Malachi Hardy, Damola Ajayi. |
Player of the Match: Son Heung-min (Tottenham) 🎖️
Key Takeaways
✅ Tottenham’s attacking stars stepped up – Maddison and Son were instrumental in securing victory.
✅ Defensive concerns remain – Spurs allowed Hoffenheim back into the game and needed to be more solid at the back.
✅ Brandon Austin delivered – The young goalkeeper made crucial saves to keep Spurs ahead.
✅ One foot in the last 16 – This win puts Tottenham in a strong position to advance in the Europa League.
What’s Next?
Tottenham will now focus on their Premier League campaign, with a crucial match against Aston Villa coming up. Meanwhile, Hoffenheim will look to bounce back in their next domestic fixture.
Will Spurs maintain their momentum and secure qualification? The journey continues! 🏆🔥
