RICHARLISON’S FIRST GOALS for Tottenham saw them mark their Champions League return with a 2-0 win over 10-man Marseille.
The summer signing scored two headers in the space of five second-half minutes to get Spurs out of trouble in their Group D opener.
Playing at the elite level for the first time since 2020, Antonio Conte’s men were labouring against the Ligue 1 side, who had Chancel Mbemba sent off early in the second half.
But Richarlison, making his Champions League debut, opened his account for the club in the 76th minute from Ivan Perisic’s cross and then repeated the trick to kill the game from a Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg delivery.
His double ensured Spurs got their campaign off to a winning start in an otherwise largely difficult round of action for British teams.
Following their appearance in the 2019 final, Spurs had been banished to the backwaters of European football, with a Europa League campaign followed by an inauspicious group-stage exit from the inaugural Europa Conference League last season.
Conte had taken them back to the big time, but their first-half performance was hardly befitting of the premier club competition.
Spurs were sloppy in possession and lacked creativity in a drab opening 45 minutes.
Marseille, who were also in the Conference League last season and had former midfielder Joey Barton supporting them in the away end, were hardly of the calibre of their 1993 side that won this competition, but pressed hard and stifled the front three of Harry Kane, Son Heung-min and Richarlison.
It was not until the 40th minute that the trio were all able to combine and it ended in Kane having a rare sight of goal.
Some clever footwork by Richarlison saw him play Son in and the South Korean fed Kane, but he rolled his shot well wide of the far post.
Matteo Guendouzi, constantly reminded of his past allegiance to Arsenal by home fans, had run the midfield for the French side and he forced Hugo Lloris into a smart stop with a low drive just before the break as Spurs were booed off at half-time.
The hosts were given a tonic two minutes after the restart as the French side were reduced to 10 men.
Kane sent Son clear and after getting to the ball first, he was scythed down by Mbemba, who was shown a straight red card by referee Slavko Vincic.
The decision actually worked against Spurs as Marseille changed to a more defensive formation and sat behind the ball, putting the onus on Conte’s side to try and break them down.
The introduction of Dejan Kulusevski helped as the Swede embarked on a dynamic run down the right which ended in his shot being saved by former Spurs loanee Pau Lopez.
It looked like being a frustrating evening until Richarlison chose a great moment to break his Spurs duck in the 76th minute.
Perisic found space down the left and sent in a delightful cross for the former Everton forward to plant a header into the back of the net.
He got his second five minutes later as Hojbjerg’s cross from a recycled corner was despatched in off the post to give Spurs a first win in this competition since they beat Olympiacos 4-2 in Jose Mourinho’s first home game back in November 2019.
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2 great headers !
Mixed over this one, Conte’s football is absolutely miserable to watch but the results are definitely coming. Son is a shell of himself, Conte was generous starting him tonight and vs Fulham but he is in fact the problem up top and Kulusevski should be up there with Kane and Richarlison.
Tbh it was dire until Richarlison decided to take the game by the scruff of the neck, couldn’t break down 10 men Marseille at home. Like the late goal vs Chelsea I really feel like this papers over the cracks of some pretty grim showings from Spurs. No chemistry between Kane and Son anymore, and the midfield turn into passengers to often. Anyway, we’ll keep this going and pray vs City this weekend. COYS
@Sam Murray: can’t argue with that, something definitely off up front. Having said that , we’re still not losing and playing poorly. Plus the amount of signings we had over summer, it was always going to take time to gel and form a style.
As for Son, at least his giving him time. He needs goal desperately, he looks starved of confidence.
I’ve been saying since August, at least we’re winning playing bad. But you won’t get away with that for long.
Next weekend could be sh it show if we don’t start playing.
@Sam Murray: Didn’t watch the game but wouldn’t worry about it too much. Marseille are joint top of Ligue 1 with 3 clean sheets and already one victory with 10 men. Sounds like a well drilled team playing a very defensive 5 at the back (3 on attack)… says a lot when Guendouzi is one of their ‘attacking’ 10′s. Definitely the second best team in your group too. Frankfurt lack experience and signings, while Sporting have lost some of last years squad. Watched Frankfurt play Sporting earlier – Frankfurt comfortably the better team for 60 mins before they capitulated.
@Sam Murray: Son has been so off the boil since Richarlison joined, he has to be dropped for next game
Spurs vs City on Saturday could be a humdinger..looking forward to it
So Richarlison for salah in the fantasy team is it?