He was a monster vs Atleti: Spurs star looks like a Bale & Modric hybrid

Tottenham Hotspur‘s Champions League run may have come to an abrupt end on Wednesday night, although Igor Tudor‘s men went down fighting, securing a first win under the Croatian against Atletico Madrid.

On a midweek that notably saw the likes of Chelsea and Newcastle United ripped apart, Spurs looked like one of the few capable of staging a surprise comeback, having taken the game to Diego Simeone’s side right from the off.

Playing with nothing to lose after the car-crash nature of last week’s trip to the Spanish capital, the Lilywhites were a joy to watch going forward, with the pieces all starting to come together under the Tudor regime.

Spurs vs Atleti – Match Stats
Spurs	Stat	Atleti
51%	Possession	49%
2.45	xG	1.04
18	Shots	18
5	Saves	8
7	Corners	7
16	Fouls	8
415	Passes	404
8	Tackles	27
7	Free-kicks	16
4	Yellows	3

The eventual result might well have come in vain, considering the 5-7 aggregate scoreline, but after so much turbulence, there might well be light at the end of the tunnel, rather than an oncoming train.

What Tudor got right in Spurs’ win over Atleti

With a raft of injury issues and absentees, with the likes of Richarlison and Dominic Solanke ruled out through suspension and injury, respectively, there was a sense that Tudor’s hand was forced somewhat.

That being said, the 47-year-old reaped the rewards of deploying his players in their favoured roles, having taken no significant gambles after experimenting with the likes of Antonin Kinsky and Souza in recent games.

There was a clarity to his selection, with Mathys Tel notably proving a real handful down the left flank, having also supplied the assist for Randal Kolo Muani’s earlier header.

Kolo Muani, who completed just a solitary pass amid an anonymous display a week ago, looked far brighter this time around, with that effort on the half hour mark taking him up to four Champions League goals for the season.

The decision, forced or not, to settle on a midfield pairing of Pape Matar Sarr and Archie Gray is also beginning to bear fruit, particularly for the latter, with the Englishman reaping the rewards of operating in his natural home, after chopping and changing so often over the last 18 months.

Defensively too, the usage of a fluid back three or back five worked wonders, allowing Pedro Porro to fly forward down the right flank, supported by the improving Radu Dragusin behind him.

There is then so much to be positive about heading into Sunday’s vital clash with Nottingham Forest, with Wednesday also proving a breakthrough night in another sense for the North Londoners.

Spurs star looked like a Bale & Modric hybrid on a breakthrough night

It was almost 16 years ago that Gareth Bale announced himself to the wider world following his breakout display at Inter Milan, the Welsh wing wizard netting a second-half hat-trick to spare Tottenham’s blushes after falling 4-0 down at San Siro.

While not quite to that extent, there were parallels with regard to Xavi Simons‘ performance on Wednesday night, with the Dutchman – alongside Gray – having been immense up against another elite European side.

It’s been a mixed start to life in the capital for Spurs’ £52m signing, although this was a night where everything clicked into gear, having run the show in his preferred number ten berth.

His efforts, like Bale before him, may have come in vain, yet this was like watching a master at work, having been almost talismanic in the way he curled home to make it 2-1, before earning and converting a penalty in stoppage time.

Time and again, the 22-year-old drifted into pockets of space and weaved his way past a sea of Atleti defenders, notably somewhat unfortunate not to earn a foul in the build-up to Julian Alvarez’s second-half equaliser.

The visitors simply couldn’t contain him, with Simons notably registering five key passes and successfully completing four of his six attempted dribbles, while winning nine of his 14 total duels.

There was certainly a balletic quality to his game, evoking memories of a certain Luka Modric in his pomp, with the diminutive talent gliding about the pitch and pulling the strings so effortlessly.

You could see that Modric-esque ability on the ball in two key moments, with Simons first producing a lovely sweeping pass at the end of a rapid Tottenham breakaway in the first half, with Tel ultimately denied by Juan Russo at the end of it.

After the break too, there were shades of Modric about Simons’ delightful flick to set Porro free inside the penalty area, with Musso again proving the hero after keeping out the Spaniard’s outside-the-boot attempt.

Consistency will be the word for the ex-RB Leipzig man now, although this felt like the night – as it was for Bale all those years ago – that everything truly came together in a Tottenham shirt.

Long may it continue.