Spurs played host to German giants Bayern Munich in their first full Champions League campaign at their new stadium. Expectations were high for the hosts looking to bounce back after a disappointing opening game against Olympiacos. This was anticipated to be one of the best games of the group stage. Both teams started strongly, the hosts knew they weren’t in for an easy game. Both teams had several chances early on but Spurs were the first to capitalize on their chances through Hueng-Min Son who smashed home to give Spurs an early lead. That lead was short lived though as the 5 time winners equalized just three minutes later thanks to Joshua Kimmich, right in front of the away fans. A very equal game with some great defending from either side, with their horns locked together it looked like the first half would finish honours even. With the last attack of the half and a superb flick over Alderweireld by Lewandowski, the home team failed to get rid of the ball and using his clinical strikers instinct, with his back to the goal in one motion turned and placed it into the bottom corner to give the visitors a 2-1 lead going into the break.
With both teams out ready for the second half and both unchanged, Spurs looked to improve in the second half. The former Arsenal player Serge Gnabry had something to say on his return to North London. He collected the ball on the left hand side, breezed past Aurier and then cut inside past the defence and curled it into the bottom left corner to make it 3-1 to Bayern and an up hill battle for Spurs, very clinical from the man who struggled to make the West Brom first team, less than 4 years ago. Just two minutes later Gnabry doubled his total for the night. With the score 4-1 to the reigning Bundesliga champions, the comeback for Spurs looked near to impossible now but they were handed a life-line when they were awarded a penalty. One of the best strikers in the world going up against one of the best goal keepers in the world, there can only be one winner and the winner this time round was Englands’ captain who is so clinical when it comes to penalties. Hput it to the right of Neuer just out of his reach. Just minutes later with Spurs looking to try and gain something from this match, they brought on Eriksen to add more attacking threat, 10 minutes later on went Lucas to replace Dele Alli, with Spurs trying desperately to find a third goal. In the 80th minute Gnarby completed his hat trick with a calmly finished one on one after a long range pass from Thiago. With the score now 2-5, Tottenham were just playing for pride, Spurs were defensively poor in the second half. It went from bad to worse for Spurs as with 3 minutes left of the 90, the Polish goal machine doubled his total for the night with a first time finish to make it 2-6. Home supporters were now starting to pile towards the exit as they had all seen enough for one night. Just 1 minute later it’s made completely embarrassing as Gnarby once again came back to haunt his former rivals as he lashed home from about 22 yards to make it 2-7 to Bayern Munich. The full time whistle blew and the nightmare for Spurs was over, for now!
Football Curse or Coincidence 