February 14, (THEWILL) – The dreams of Tottenham Hotspur advancing in the UEFA Champions League now rest on a knife’s edge, after they suffered a 1-0 defeat at the hands of AC Milan in the first leg of their round of 16 clash.
The Italian giants put in a workman-like performance at San Siro, with Brahim Diaz’s early diving header proving to be the difference between the two sides. While Spurs rallied in the second half, they were unable to convert their chances, meaning they will have to produce a heroic performance in the return leg if they are to make it to the quarter-finals.
The match was characterised by a lack of fluidity, with both teams struggling to create many clear-cut opportunities. Milan made the most of their chance when it came, with Theo Hernandez and Diaz combining to devastating effect after just seven minutes. Spurs were unable to find a way past a resolute Milan defence for the rest of the game, despite some promising attacking play in the second half.
The result will be a bitter blow for Spurs, who came into the match in good form and hoping to build on their impressive group stage performances. The return leg on March 8th now takes on added importance, with Tottenham needing to overturn the deficit in front of their own fans.
Milan, meanwhile, will be quietly confident of progressing to the next round after securing their first-ever victory over the London club. Up next for Milan is a Saturday Serie A away tie against Monza, while Spurs host West Ham the following day.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
