Hoffenheim v Tottenham LIVE - UEFA Europa League latest as Ange Postecoglou's side earn nervy victory in Germany
Europa League / League Phase
PreZero Arena / 23.01.2025
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- J. Maddison(3')
- H. Son(22', 77')
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Updated 23/01/2025 at 19:39 GMT
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FT
SPURS EGDE NERVY THRILLER TO NEAR TOP-EIGHT FINISH
Tottenham Hotpur were made to sweat for their 3-2 victory at Hoffenheim, as an important Son Heung-min brace launched Ange Postecoglou's side into the UEFA Europa League top eight.
It was a blistering start from the Premier League strugglers, as James Maddison opened the scoring with a neat take from a long ball and emphatic finish inside three minutes.
And the midfielder was again at the centre of the action as he teed up Son midway through the first half, with the Spurs captain seeing a deflected strike drop over the head of Oliver Baumann for a two-goal cushion.
Hoffenheim seemed to find their feet ahead of the half-time break, and carried that momentum after the interval, seeing wave upon wave of pressure come to no avail – not helped by the woodwork denying Andrej Kramaric's header.
The hosts' pressure looked to have finally told when they won a penalty for Brandon Austin's challenge on Max Moerstedt midway through the second half, but referee Morten Krogh revoked his decision following a lengthy VAR check.
Hoffenheim eventually found the target though, Anton Stach capping off a neat move to halve Spurs' advantage.
But the game swung yet again nine minutes later, with Son notching his double in clinical style to give the visitors breathing room yet again.
Substitute David Mokwa pounced on some poor Spurs defending to force a nervy finish, but there was to be no dramatic equaliser for the hosts – whose hopes of remaining in the competition now look slim.
Spurs provisionally moved up to fourth ahead of the later kick-offs, and victory over Elfsborg at home next week would secure a top-eight finish.
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'Son at his very best' - Skipper restores Spurs' two-goal lead with 'excellent finish'
Video credit: TNT Sports
FT
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FT
POSTECOGLOU EYEING TOP EIGHT
The Spurs boss was looking ahead to next week's clash against Elfsborg - and victory against the Swedish side would confirm automatic qualification for the last 16.
"We have a home game," he told TNT Sports. "It's a great position to be in, we want to finish top-eight because it gives us an extra week of respite from the schedule we've had. We're going to need it around that time, great incentive, but credit to the lads."
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Image credit: Getty Images
FT
POSTECOGLOU SPEAKS TO TNT SPORTS
The Spurs boss was very pleased to see his side hold on for all three points in Hoffenheim.
"Not easy to get away wins in Europe," he said. "Watching the Champions League last night, only one away victory, so it's tough but credit to the boys. Outstanding first half, played really well. We looked tired in the second half but hung on.
"Sonny scored a great goal to give us that extra buffer, had schoolboys out there in the end but it was a great victory."
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'Finishes it beautifully' - Maddison tucks away 'magnificent' Porro pass to put Spurs 1-0 up
Video credit: TNT Sports
FT
CROUCH ON WHETHER SPURS CAN WIN THE EUROPA LEAGUE
"I don't think favourites is a shout," he said. "But I think they're more than capable of winning this tournament.
"They have the players, ability, and when those players come back [from injury] and give that strength in depth, they have the ability to do it yeah."
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'Just what the doctor ordered' - Son doubles Spurs' lead after surviving penalty claim
Video credit: TNT Sports
FT
SON IS A SPURS 'LEGEND' - CROUCH
Watching what turned out to be the decisive goal, Crouch hailed Spurs captain Son and his overall contribution at the club.
"This is Son to a tee. 101," he said. "You see him in this position so many times, just haven't seen it enough this season. There was a time where it was a goal every time from that position. Quick stepover, move to the left, his signature move, great finish.
"Love him as a player, an absolute legend of the football club. He's put some goals up there with the greats of Spurs.
"There was a little bit of criticism this season, that creeps in when you're not performing to the ability that we've seen in recent seasons. Without doubt a legend of the football club."
'Son at his very best' - Skipper restores Spurs' two-goal lead with 'excellent finish'
Video credit: TNT Sports
FT
CROUCH: 'THAT'S WHAT WE EXPECT FROM SPURS'
Peter Crouch was critical of Spurs' second-half performance, but did not want to take the shine away from what is a strong victory on the road in Europe.
"I don't want to do too much of a disservice to them," he said. "I thought there were elements of it that were very good. The first half was fantastic, but they lost control in the second half. Hoffenheim came into it, they had some chances.
"But they were clinical, Son was clinical, got his chance and took it. That didn't stop them having a nervy ending, but that's what we expect from Spurs at the moment."
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Image credit: Getty Images
FT
A SIGH OF RELIEF
A tense finish in Germany, but Spurs are back to winning ways.
FT
ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?
Wherever Spurs do end up this season, you can safely say they have been five-star entertainment.
But victory in Hoffenheim will come as a major boost for a side which have struggled so much domestically in recent weeks - you can see fragility in their game, and when they're on the back foot, they almost get sucked in.
However, some important performances from their senior players pulled them through this evening, and that is a major positive for Ange Postecoglou's side.
The hosts could not live with James Maddison in the first half, and Son Heung-min showcased his captain's credentials with two extremely important contributions.
Spurs will want to make easier work for themselves in future outings, but for now, they have firmly lodged themselves in the UEFA Europa League top-eight mix, and remain in contention for three trophies this season.
'Son at his very best' - Skipper restores Spurs' two-goal lead with 'excellent finish'
Video credit: TNT Sports
FT
FULL-TIME: HOFFENHEIM 2-3 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Another Spurs performance raising blood pressures of all involved, but they have secured the victory - and it is a welcome one.
Big contributions from Maddison and Son were ultimately telling. They really did not have to make it as difficult as they did, but hey, it's three points and Spurs are provisionally up to fourth.
Reaction to come... stay tuned.
Image credit: Getty Images
90+4'
ALL HANDS TO THE PUMP
Kulusevski is holding it in the corner. It never had to be like this... but are you not entertained?
90+3'
MY WORD, THIS IS TENSE
The hosts piling into the box, a bit of pinball, and Akpoguma tries to nudge an effort towards goal.
It is recycled, and Hoffenheim win a corner, though Arthur Chaves is sure his side should have a penalty for handball on Gray.
90'
FIVE MINUTES TO GO!
Surely, surely, Spurs cannot let this slip.
88'
GOAL! HOFFENHEIM 2-3 SPURS (MOKWA NTUSU)
I have a tendency to speak too soon. Thanks to some slack defending, the hosts are back in it!
Kramaric whips in a delicious, deep cross to the back post - and substitute David Mokwa Ntusu was there to nod home.
Poor from Porro, who was backtracking but nowhere near it. Could we see a late surprise?
85'
SPURS RIDING THIS OUT
Three points will be going back to north London tonight. And Spurs are provisionally fourth in the league phase standings.
All of a sudden, this clash became much less frantic.
80'
TRIPLE SUB FOR HOFFENHEIM
Stach, Hlozek and Bischof all make way. Two goals needed to restore hope to their Europa League campaign, and it is now beginning to look unlikely.
77'
GOAL! HOFFENHEIM 1-3 SPURS (SON)
Now, that really should be that for Postecoglou's side.
They've enjoyed more of the ball in the last five minutes or so, but that was really poor from the hosts.
Nsoki hits a horrid pass which is cut out by Bentancur, and he sets Moore away.
The youngster plays in the advancing Son, who opens up the angle with a neat stepover before firing across goal and into the bottom corner.
A sucker-punch for Hoffenheim who, for a large period, were the only side in this second half. But with defending like that, they only have themselves to blame.
'Son at his very best' - Skipper restores Spurs' two-goal lead with 'excellent finish'
Video credit: TNT Sports
75'
SPURS IN THE FINAL THIRD
Bergvall does really well to take the pressure off Spurs' backline with a surging run down the right, hugging the touchline.
He plays it central, but Son can't find the space to work an effort.
Kulusevski does well to win a corner from the throw-in.
72'
HOFFENHEIM WITH ALL THE MOMENTUM
You have to feel at this point, an equaliser is more than a possibility. Spurs have not been in this second half at all.
68'
GOAL! HOFFENHEIM 1-2 SPURS (STACH)
What a match. What a sport. This is Europa League at its ridiculous best.
A fantastic long ball finds Kramaric who leads the counter, finding the onrushing Jurasek out wide who advances into the area.
He slides the ball in perfectly for Stach, who scuffs an effort past Austin, in off the post.