Randal Kolo Muani haunted his former club, Eintracht Frankfurt, by scoring the opening goal in Tottenham's 2-0 victory, securing their place in the Champions League last 16. The Wednesday night win at Deutsche Bank Park saw Kolo Muani, a former Frankfurt player, break the deadlock early in the second half, followed by a goal from Dominic Solanke.
The match was particularly significant for Kolo Muani, especially considering his recent involvement in a car accident on Tuesday while en route to the airport for the team's flight to Frankfurt. Despite the scare and a late arrival in Germany, he started against his former team and made a crucial impact. Adding to the drama, reports circulated about Juventus's interest in bringing the French forward back this month.
Kolo Muani's return to Frankfurt was met with boos from the home crowd, who remembered his prolific scoring record for them in the 2022-23 season. He previously forced a move from Frankfurt to Paris Saint-Germain in 2023. Despite the hostile reception, he managed to silence the critics by calmly slotting home the opening goal in the 47th minute, assisted by a header from Cristian Romero. This marked his only other goals for Spurs, with the other two scored against his parent club, Paris Saint-Germain.
Tottenham had a shaky start to the game, with Xavi Simons's early goal being disallowed due to an offside call against Destiny Udogie. Before Kolo Muani's opener, chances came and went for both sides, with Wilson Odobert hitting the post for Tottenham. Frankfurt also threatened, with Hugo Larsson hitting the crossbar.
Dominic Solanke, who came off the bench, sealed the victory with a well-taken goal, further easing the pressure on Tottenham's coach, Thomas Frank. The win was crucial for Frank, who has been under pressure due to the team's inconsistent domestic form. Before the match, Frank only had 11 experienced outfield players at his disposal due to 14 absences.
With this victory, Tottenham finished fourth in the league phase of the Champions League. This result marks a significant achievement for Spurs, who have now progressed from the group stage in six of their last seven Champions League campaigns. They now await the draw to discover their opponent for the last 16, with potential ties against Club Brugge, Galatasaray, Juventus, or Atletico Madrid. The draw for the knockout phase will take place in Nyon.
The win against Frankfurt marks Tottenham's third consecutive Champions League victory, a feat they haven't achieved since 2019. Despite domestic challenges, Thomas Frank has guided Tottenham to a strong performance in Europe, providing a welcome boost for the club.
