Tottenham Hotspur and Eintracht Frankfurt played out an enthralling 1-1 draw in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final tie at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, leaving the contest delicately poised ahead of next week’s return leg in Germany.
The match began with a jolt for the home side as Eintracht Frankfurt struck early. In the sixth minute, Hugo Ekitike capitalized on a swift counter-attack, slotting a precise strike from just outside the box into the bottom right corner past a helpless Guglielmo Vicario. The Bundesliga side’s clinical start silenced the Spurs faithful, who were hoping for a commanding performance from their team in this crucial knockout clash.
However, Tottenham responded with resilience. Ange Postecoglou’s men gradually found their rhythm, with young midfielder Lucas Bergvall dictating play and covering ground tirelessly. Their persistence paid off in the 26th minute when Pedro Porro produced a moment of magic. Latching onto a low cross from James Maddison, the Spanish full-back improvised brilliantly, flicking the ball into the net with a deft back-heeled finish to level the scoreline. The stadium erupted, and Spurs carried that momentum into the remainder of the half.
The second half saw Tottenham dominate possession and create a flurry of chances, but they were repeatedly thwarted by Eintracht’s 21-year-old goalkeeper, Kaua Santos, who delivered a standout performance. Santos denied Heung-Min Son and Maddison with spectacular saves, while Micky van de Ven was left frustrated in stoppage time as his powerful effort was tipped away. Spurs also struck the woodwork twice—Bergvall’s long-range thunderbolt rattled the crossbar, and Rodrigo Bentancur’s header clipped the frame of the goal—highlighting their wastefulness in front of goal.
Despite their dominance, Tottenham couldn’t find a winner, and Eintracht’s resolute defending ensured they left North London with a valuable draw. The visitors’ traveling supporters celebrated at the final whistle, knowing their team remains firmly in the tie.
Postecoglou, while visibly frustrated, remained optimistic in his post-match comments. “We created enough to win two games tonight, but it didn’t fall for us. If we repeat that performance in Frankfurt, we’ll give ourselves a great chance,” he said. The Australian manager also praised Bergvall’s display, calling the 19-year-old “a real bright spark” in a season that has been challenging for Spurs.
For Eintracht, manager Dino Toppmöller was pleased with his side’s discipline. “To come here and get a draw is a good result. We know Tottenham are dangerous, but we showed we can compete. Now we have our fans behind us at home,” he remarked.
Tottenham’s injury concerns added to the night’s frustrations, with Dejan Kulusevski and Kevin Danso absent, though Postecoglou will hope for positive updates before the second leg. The match also saw Brennan Johnson struggle to make an impact, prompting calls from fans for substitutes like Mathys Tel or Mikey Moore to be introduced earlier.
With the tie level at 1-1, both teams will now turn their attention to the second leg at Deutsche Bank Park on April 17. For Tottenham, the Europa League represents their last chance for silverware and European qualification next season, while Eintracht, sitting third in the Bundesliga, will fancy their chances of progressing at home.