Spurs 3-2 Atlético (Mar 18, 2026) Game Analysis – ESPN Skip to main content Skip to navigation ESPN NFL NFL NBA NBA NCAAM NCAAM NCAAW NCAAW MLB MLB NHL NHL Soccer Soccer More Sports More Sports Watch Watch Fantasy Fantasy Where to Watch Search Spurs v Atlético 2025-26 UEFA Champions League, Round of 16 Tottenham Hotspur Spurs TOT 3 FT Agg. 5-7 Atlético Madrid Atlético ATM 2 Randal Kolo Muani – 30' Xavi Simons – 52', 90' Pen Julián Álvarez – 47' Dávid Hancko – 75' 2nd Leg – Atlético Madrid advance 7-5 on aggregate Summary Report Commentary Statistics Line-Ups Videos Tottenham get hollow win, exit UCL at hands of Atlético Madrid By PA Updated: Mar 18, 2026, 06:30 pm Facebook Facebook Messenger Twitter Email Tottenham Hotspur bowed out of the Champions League but only after a rip-roaring last-16 second leg with Atlético Madrid where Xavi Simons ‘ brace helped them to a first home victory in two months. Spurs had lurched from one crisis to another in 2026 and a shambolic 5-2 loss in Madrid last week left Igor Tudor on the brink, but a spirited 1-1 draw at Liverpool restored belief and the north London club clawed back more pride on Wednesday despite a 7-5 aggregate defeat. Randal Kolo Muani’s 30th-minute opener gave Tottenham a glimmer of hope before Julián Álvarez levelled early in the second half for Atlético. Simons replied immediately to increase optimism, but David Hancko’s 75th-minute equaliser virtually put the tie to bed. There was still time for Simons to score a spot-kick in stoppage time to end Spurs’ eight-match winless run with a 3-2 victory and extend an unbeaten home record in Europe to 25 matches, but all eyes now turn to Premier League survival and Sunday’s crucial visit of Nottingham Forest . The odds were heavily stacked against Tottenham after goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky’s nightmare in Madrid, but any comeback would have officially been over had the offside flag not denied Ademola Lookman after six minutes. Without 11 players, Tudor stuck with the successful 4-4-2 system used at Anfield and belief started to build thanks to two early shots by Mathys Tel . Tottenham captain Cristian Romero had to be alert to cut out a dangerous Marcos Llorente cross before another Tel strike tested Atletico back-up goalkeeper Juan Musso . Tel had been a constant threat and with half-an-hour played he made his mark with a superb cross for Kolo Muani to head into the bottom corner. Spurs react after conceding a goal against Atleti in the Champions League. Getty Images Suddenly Spurs had hope and they may have gone 2-0 up when a slick move played in Tel, but his left-footed shot was blocked by Musso when Archie Gray was free at the back post. Atlético had been second-best, but provided a reminder of their talent when Álvarez whistled a shot over before Guglielmo Vicario produced a wonderful reflex save to keep out Giuliano Simeone’s deflected strike. It was a warning sign Tottenham failed to heed as two minutes after the break Álvarez levelled. Spurs felt Simons was fouled, but play continued and Lookman teed up Álvarez, who worked a yard of space and rifled into the top corner with a sumptuous strike. It was a sucker-punch for Spurs and yet they responded with aplomb when Simons put them back in front after 52 minutes. The excellent Gray was the architect after he nipped in to win back possession before finding Simons and the Dutch playmaker curled home from 25 yards. It sparked a wave of optimism inside the stadium and Tottenham’s big chance arrived on the hour when Simons flicked into the path of Pedro Porro , but his shot with the outside of his boot was tipped wide by Musso. Radu Dragusin headed straight at Musso from the resulting corner before fatigue set in and Spurs switched off from a corner when Dávid Hancko headed in at the near post with 15 minutes left. A crucial Romero blocked prevent a third for Atlético via Álvarez before Tottenham deservedly grabbed a winner when home debutant Callum Olusesi found Simons, who was hacked down by José María Giménez . Simons tucked away the penalty and despite a blocked late Kolo Muani chance, Spurs were applauded off at full-time. Game Information Tottenham Hotspur Stadium 4:00 PM , March 18, 2026 Coverage : Paramount+ London , England Attendance : 49,568 Referees : Daniel Siebert UEFA Champions League News Can Atletico Madrid pull off another two-legged win over Barcelona? The ESPN FC crew wonder if Atletico Madrid can repeat their Copa del Rey win over Barcelona in the Champions League quarterfinals. Flick's talk fuels Barcelona's 2nd-half demolition of Newcastle Hansi Flick's half-time team talk led to Barcelona's second half domination against Newcastle United as they set up a Champions League quarterfinal against Atlético Madrid with a thumping 7-2 win. Harry Kane becomes first Englishman with 50 UCL goals Harry Kane became the first English player to reach the 50-goal mark in the Champions League with his brace in Bayern Munich's 4-1 win over Atalanta on Wednesday. All UEFA Champions League News Terms of Use Privacy Policy Interest-Based Ads EU Privacy Rights Cookie Policy Manage Privacy Preferences © ESPN Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved.
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