Player Ratings: Kaua Stars in Europa League Stalemate with Tottenham | OneFootball

Tottenham’s Europa League Impasse Highlights Frankfurt Resilience

Fast Start Undone by Missed Chances

The Europa League quarter-final between Tottenham and Eintracht Frankfurt began with a bang but ended with a familiar murmur of frustration. Spurs, caught flat-footed within six minutes, were undone by Hugo Ekitike’s sharp movement and lethal finish — a moment that neatly encapsulated why the young striker is attracting admiring glances from across Europe.

But if Ekitike’s clinical edge hinted at promise, the rest of the contest unfolded with less precision. Pedro Porro’s equaliser midway through the first half injected energy, yet Tottenham’s efforts fizzled under the weight of Frankfurt’s organisation and, crucially, the brilliance of goalkeeper Kaua.

The Brazilian stopper produced five saves, most of them decisive, to frustrate a Spurs side that had control but not conviction.

Midfield Power Meets Final Third Impotence

Rodrigo Bentancur was superb, dictating tempo and setting rhythm, but Spurs lacked a cutting edge. Dominic Solanke struggled to shake off the shackles of Frankfurt’s disciplined centre-backs, and Son Heung-min’s influence waned as the second half dragged on.

Frankfurt, on the other hand, were unfazed by ceding possession. Skhiri and Larsson provided the ballast in midfield, while Gotze – now more sage than sorcerer – kept the ball moving intelligently.

This was a German side with poise and purpose. Not flashy, not over-ambitious. But solid. And in knockout football, that often carries further than sparkle.

All to Play for in the Return Leg

Tottenham will look to the second leg with a sense of unfinished business. Postecoglou’s team were not poor, just imprecise. They remain very much alive in the tie, but with the away goals rule abolished, the thin margins that separate control from chaos loom larger than ever.

Frankfurt will be buoyed. Their recent pedigree in the Europa League is no fluke. They’ve navigated tense, tactical match-ups before and emerged hardened by the process. Spurs will have to be more ruthless in Germany, especially if Kaua reproduces this kind of form.

Player Ratings

Tottenham (4-3-3)GK: Guglielmo Vicario – 6RB: Pedro Porro – 8CB: Cristian Romero – 6.5CB: Micky van de Ven – 8LB: Destiny Udogie – 7CM: Lucas Bergvall – 7CM: Rodrigo Bentancur – 8CM: James Maddison – 7.5RW: Brennan Johnson – 7ST: Dominic Solanke – 6LW: Son Heung-min – 6SUB: Djed Spence – 6SUB: Pape Sarr – 6SUB: Mathys Tel – 6

Eintracht Frankfurt (4-2-3-1)GK: Kaua – 9RB: Rasmus Kristensen – 7CB: Robin Koch – 7CB: Tuta – 7LB: Arthur Theate – 7.5CM: Ellyes Skhiri – 8CM: Hugo Larsson – 7RM: Jean Bahoya – 6AM: Mario Gotze – 7.5LM: Nathaniel Brown – 7ST: Hugo Ekitike – 8SUB: Fares Chaibi – 6