Richarlison rises up in Tottenham’s Champions League win over Marseille however Son Heung-Min struggles

Richarlison‘s first objectives for Tottenham Hotspur helped them mark their return to the Champions League with a 2-0 victory over 10-man Marseille in Group D on Wednesday.

Till Richarlison’s brace Tottenham had been mediocre in opposition to a full of life Marseille who have been the higher staff till Chancel Mbemba was despatched off three minutes into the second half.

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Tottenham, who missed out on the Champions league for the previous two seasons, didn’t register a shot on the right track in a lacklustre first half however Richarlison ultimately ensured an ideal begin for Antonio Conte’s staff.

JUMP TO: Player ratings | Best/worst performers | Highlights and notable moments | Post-match quotes | Key stats | Upcoming fixtures

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1. Richarlison makes his mark

Till Wednesday, probably the most memorable contribution from Richarlison got here when baited Nottingham Forest as a late substitute with a little bit of showboating that saw him scythed down moments later. But right here, on Spurs’ return to the Champions League after a three-year absence, the £60 million acquisition from Everton scored two headers within the closing quarter-hour to present Antonio Conte’s facet a 2-0 win over Marseille in north London.

Each objectives benefitted from some substandard defending and a numerical benefit given to them by Chancel Mbemba’s Forty seventh-minute purple card for fouling Heung-Min Son as he burst by means of on purpose, however Richarlison, who ended the sport in tears of pleasure, gave Spurs the innovative that they had beforehand lacked all night. They have been Richarlison’s first Tottenham objectives — on his Champions League debut no much less — and supply validation for Conte selecting to interrupt up the Son Heung-Min–Harry Kane–Dejan Kulusevski attacking triumvirate which was so influential final season.

2. Conte improves his Champions League document

There is no such thing as a doubting Antonio Conte’s pedigree in home soccer, profitable a number of Serie A titles with Juventus and Inter Milan alongside together with his 2016-17 Premier League title with Chelsea. And the Italian would little doubt rank Tottenham’s late scramble into the Champions League qualification locations final season as an achievement to sit down in the direction of the higher echelons of his profession.

However all of the whereas, doubts about his skill to translate that success into Europe’s premier membership competitors have endured. Conte had gained three of his final 15 matches within the competitors previous to Wednesday night time; his final two campaigns at Inter noticed them fail to get out of the group stage earlier than ending backside in 2021-22 with one victory from their six video games.

For a protracted interval right here, it appeared as if Conte would battle as soon as extra. In 37 Champions League video games, he has equal quantities of wins and attracts (13) to go along with 11 losses. Tonight’s outcome was all that mattered however Conte will know performances must enhance to remain on observe in Group D.

3. Son’s struggles proceed

Son outpaced Mbemba to pressure the Marseille defender right into a last-ditch deal with he mistimed, prompting Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic to brandish a purple card (after dropping it on the ground as he tried to take action). It was, due to this fact, a pivotal contribution from Son however solely a short flash of the menace he has so usually proven previously.

The 30-year-old South Korea star, who tied with Mohamed Salah for the Premier League Golden Boot final season, is but to get off the mark in any competitors thus far this time and located himself certainly one of a number of Spurs stifled by Marseille’s fearsome urgent, significantly within the first half. His particular person anticipated objectives was 0.08 from 86 minutes, a lot decrease than Richarlison (0.55), Kane (0.21) and even Kulusevski (0.20) who solely performed the ultimate 29 minutes at proper wing-back.

Son deserves time to come back good — as he absolutely will earlier than too lengthy — however the added competitors for locations at Spurs this season will add the strain on him to take action.

Participant scores

Tottenham Hotspur: Hugo Lloris 6, Emerson Royal 7, Cristian Romero 6, Eric Dier 7, Clement Lenglet 6, Ivan Perisic 7, Rodrigo Bentancur 6, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg 7, Richarlison 8, Son Heung-Min 6, Harry Kane 6.
Subs: Dejan Kulusevski 7, Japhet Tanganga 6, Ben Davies 6, Matt Doherty 6, Yves Bissouma 6.

Marseille: Pau Lopez 6, Chancel Mbemba 4, Eric Bailly 7, Samuel Gigot 7, Jonathan Clauss 7, Matteo Guendouzi 7, Jordan Veretout 7, Valentin Rongier 7, Nuno Tavares 5, Gerson 6, Luis Suarez 6.
Subs: Leonardo Balerdi 6, Sead Kolasinac 6, Amine Harit 6, Pape Gueye 6, Cengiz Below 6.

Greatest and worst performers

BEST: Richarlison, Tottenham.

Two objectives on his Champions League debut elevated a mean Tottenham efficiency right into a profitable one. His second header specifically was wonderful.

WORST: Chancel Mbemba, Marseille

The guests have been within the ascendancy till Mbemba’s determined Forty seventh-minute lunge on Son, which lowered his staff to 10 males.

Highlights and notable moments

First Champions League recreation at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. First objectives for summer season signing Richarlison.

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— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) September 7, 2022

You’ll be able to inform it means quite a bit for the Brazilian star.

After the match: What the managers, gamers mentioned

“I bear in mind very nicely after we signed him, he mentioned ‘I can not wait to take heed to the Champions League music and to play on this competitors. They have been essential phrases for me. This morning, I remembered. I mentioned ‘Richy, I bear in mind what you mentioned and tonight you’ve got your alternative. You might have an opportunity. You deserve this, take pleasure in this second and attempt to do your greatest.’ I feel he did his greatest and helped us to get the factors.” — Spurs coach Antonio Conte on Richarlison

“Powerful recreation, enjoying in opposition to a very good Marseille staff who’ve had a fantastic begin to the season. Troublesome within the Champions League, we wanted to start out robust at dwelling and the sending off helped. In the long run Richarlison popped off a few objectives.” — Spurs captain Harry Kane, to BT Sport

“We should always do higher from the primary minute, we have been a bit nervous with the ball however defended nicely and saved a clear sheet. We now have to maintain going, do a bit higher with the ball however it was a bit simpler 11 vs 10.” — Spurs winger Ivan Perisic, to BT Sport

Key Stats (supplied by ESPN Stats & Data)

– A sequence of “firsts” for Richarlison. His first Champions League recreation, his first scores as a Tottenham man, and his first recreation with a number of headed objectives throughout all competitions.

Up subsequent

Tottenham Hotspur: A busy week forward, with a giant Premier League conflict at Manchester City on Saturday. Spurs then head to Lisbon to face Sporting CP in Champions League motion subsequent Tuesday, then internet hosting Leicester City in league motion on Sept. 17.

Marseille: The French facet host Ligue 1 foes Lille on Saturday earlier than returning to Champions League play on Tuesday, welcoming Eintracht Frankfurt to the Stade Velodrome.