U.E.F.A CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
MATCHDAY 3
WEDNESDAY 22ND OCTOBER, 2025
(8PM - BST)
A.S MONACO 0(0) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 0(0)
Attendance:- 11,365
Referee:- Marco Guida
Assistants:- Giorgio Peretti & Giuseppe Perrotti
Fourth official:- Simone Sozza
VAR:- Aleandro Di Paolo
Assistant VAR:- Daniele Chiffi
(All officials from Italy)
Teams:-
Monaco (3-4-3):- 16. Kohn; 5. Kehrer (Capt.), 22. Salisu, 12. Caio Henrique; 27. Diatta (sub 10. Golovin, 57), 4. Teze, 28. Coulibaly, 20. Ouattra (sub 13. Mawissa, 70); 11. Akliouche, 9. Balogun (sub 14. Biereth, 83), 31. Ansu Fati (sub 18. Minamino, 70)
Subs not used:- 40. Stawiecki, 50. Lienard; 17. Idumbo, 23. Bamba, 43. Cabral; 19. Ilenikhena, 21. Michal
No bookings
Spurs (4-3-3):- 1. Vicario; 23. Pedro Porro, 4. Danso, 37. Van de Ven (Capt.), 14. Gray; 6. Palhinha, 30. Bentancur (sub 29. Sarr, 60), 15. Bergvall (sub 7. Xavi Simons, 60); 20. Kudus (sub 24. Spence, 79), 9. Richarlison (sub 39. Kolo-Muani, 70), 28. Odobert (sub 22. Johnson, 69)
Subs not used:- 31. Kinsky, 40. Austin; 67. Byfield; 51. Olusesi; 44. Scarlett, 68. Williams-Barnett
Booked:- Richarlison (foul on Salisu)
Spurs escape with a point
Monaco v Spurs, 22.10.25
Thanks to Chris Fincham for this image
Thomas Frank's Spurs remain unbeaten in the Champions League, but they had a string of saves by Vicario to thank for that, along with the inaccuracy of so many of Monaco's shots on goal.
There was some desperate and effective defending by a Spurs side once again missing their captain, Cristian Romero, but the players in front of them struggled to hold the ball, and to string a few passes together. This Spurs side has yet to gel, as it must in the continuing absence of creative players such as Kulusevski and Maddison.
That shot count was telling. Monaco had 23 - 11 of which were on target. Spurs mustered 8, and just 2 on target. In the last week criminals escaped from The Louvre in Paris with precious Napoleonic jewels. Spurs escaped with a valuable point which places them 15th in this league phase. Realistically, a top 24 play-off position is our best hope in this competition.
This was our first 0-0 draw in 125 games in all competitions since March 2023 at home against Milan in an unsuccessful Champions League Round of 16 tie.
Before the game there was confusion about where Archie Gray would start. Various pre-match formations had him at centre-back, full-back, or in midfield. Making his first Champions League start, the 19-year-old played at left back, replacing Djed Spence. Udogie didn't travel.
Frank's other two changes to Sunday's line-up were Bergvall for Simons and Richarlison for Tel. Neither fulfilled the hope placed in them in this game, whereas Archie Gray made several vital challenges and worked well with Odobert down the left wing.
Both sides fielded eleven of the twelve allowed substitutes. Two of Spurs' subs (Olusesi and Williams-Barnett) had impressed in the Youth team's 4-2 win over Monaco at the training ground in the hills above the city.
Former Spur Eric Dier was absent through injury and last season's top scorer Biereth was on the Monaco bench.
Monaco's new coach Sebastien Pocognoli chose a back three formation and an attacking forward line of Akliouche, Balogun (ex-Arsenal) and current top scorer Ansu Fati.
Spurs kicked off and played towards their 1,000 fans, who were in good voice in the early stages. Kudus committed a foul just outside our area and Monaco had an early free kick which came to nought. Archie Gray chased back to make a good tackle on Akliouche - an exciting 23-year-old who made his French senior international debut last month.
Akliouche had a shot blocked after Ansu Fati's pass from the left before Vicario made the first of his saves when Balogun fired from a sharp angle.
Kudus won a corner which was cleared as the home side raced forward with Ansu Fati getting into the Spurs area, claiming a penalty. That claim was dismissed by experienced Italian referee Marco Guida.
After an attacking throw, Odobert crossed into the area, and skipper Micky Van de Ven's header was over the bar. Pedro Porro tried to find Richarlison with a cross, but goalkeeper Philipp Kohn collected. He wasn't the only offender, but most of Porro's attempted passes missed their target in this game.
Ansu Fati crossed dangerously from the left and Vicario could only pat this ball away. Gray completed the clearance. Vicario made a great save after Balogun's one-two exchange with Akliouche who lifted the ball over the defence for Balogun to hit a left-footed shot.
Spurs managed a counter attack and Odobert passed from a central position to Richarlison to his left. "Richie"'s shot was blocked by former Southampton defender Salisu. Kudus and Gray combined to feed Richarlison, but his cross was cleared. Pedro Porro had a right foot shot drift wide. In a decent spell for Spurs, Kudus did well to get into a shooting position in the box but found no strength for his shot.
Monaco v Spurs, 22.10.25
Stuart Gibson's image shows the Monaco Palace behind the stadium
Vicario made a great left-handed save from Balogun's low shot after a good passing move by the home side. As has been happening too often lately, Spurs' opponents seemed to find space and time to control proceedings, whereas we always seem so rushed and quite desperate. Vicario also held a header by Ouattra.
Kudus won us another corner, after which Danso's header from a Bergvall cross was held. Danso was deemed to have committed a foul anyway. Danso had another header from a Kudus corner go over the target.
Pedro Porro did find Odobert with a great cross-field pass, but this time Odobert could not control the ball.
There were no changes for the second half. Richarlison was shown the only yellow card of the game for a high boot on Salisu. Akliouche turned Palhinha inside the Spurs box and Vicario held his shot at his near post.
An Odobert shot was deflected over for a corner. Gray and Richarlison combined in a central position and Archie was fouled 23 yards out. Pedro Porro's free kick hit the wall.
Spurs' first substitutions were Xavi for Bergvall and Sarr for Bentancur.
Vicario saved again from Monaco sub Golovin, and a header by former West Ham defender Kehrer was just wide.
Odobert needed treatment after holding his side and was also soon to be replaced by Johnson, with Kolo-Muani replacing Richarlison. Towards the end of the game Kolo-Muani became a good pivot for potential attacking moves.
After a Monaco corner, Spurs had a great chance when breaking out but that failed because of hesitation by Xavi. Vicario made an incredible reaction save from Teze's downward header after a cross from the left.
Former Liverpool player Minamino had been one of Monaco's subs and after his cross from the left Coulibaly's effort was over the bar. Minamino had a chance himself but fired over - not for the last time. Spurs were being overrun and after Minamino's pass, Akliouche hit a left-footed shot wide.
With added time looming, Spurs finally managed to attack and looked more like scoring than at any other time. Johnson had our best chance following Sarr's cross but scuffed his shot. Spence passed inside to Xavi, but his shot was off target.
It was a frantic finish to the game with both sides seeking a much-needed winner. Monaco have just two points from their three games.
Two of our next three Champions League games are at home to bottom twelve sides Copenhagen and Slavia Prague. Wins in those games will be vital to our chances of progress, with a very difficult away game against PSG between those two matches.
Next up is the trip to Everton on Sunday. It's a much-used line at present but we need to see an improved performance!
. Champions League standings
. Squad numbers,appearances,bookings & goalscorers
. Read the preview for this game.