Timo Werner goal the difference for Leipzig – even if his performance failed to live up to expectations

Maybe in another era, his performance might have been of an audition spurned. But Werner’s goal proved the diffence and he remains as enticing as ever to clubs around Europe

Timo Werner's penalty proved the difference in north London (PA)

There were moments during this first leg between Tottenham and RB Leipzig that showed what Julian Naglesman recognises as the developing maturity and positional dexterity of his 23-year old forward, Timo Werner.

Just six minutes into the tie, the German was on the right, in front of his coach and within handshaking distance of the wing-back, Nordi Mukiele. RB Leipzig had the ball, as was the case for most of the match. As the play moves over to that side, Werner does not move, instead encouraging Mukiele forward like a dad ushering his kids through the door on the morning school run.

A few seconds later, as the Frenchman pulled the ball back to the edge of the box, there was Werner, arriving as all good forwards do, late and on time.

There was a similar incident midway through the first half. Again Mukiele encouraged to go on, again Werner having a look to see when and where he’d make his run. This time he broke into the box with it all to himself and stretched for Angelino’s first-time cross.

A switch from right to left 10 minutes later saw him lurking perfectly in Serge Aurier’s blindspot, ready and waiting for a one-on-one chance that arrived once Konrad Laimer had committed the right amount of defenders.

And how about that dummy in the second-half? Angelino again with the punched pass, Werner, this time, letting it through his legs to give Patrik Schick a clear shot at goal.

The truth is, though, that none of these were moments at all. Certainly not moments of worth.

Werner’s shot, one of four he had in the first half, was snuffed out immediately. That stretch to reach Angelino’s ball was unsuccessful and, had it been otherwise, would have been flagged offside.

The advantage of his room at the back post was countered by his own poor first touch, requiring a second to get the ball out of his feet with the third a snatched effort clawed out by Lloris. The Spurs keeper was on hand to keep out Schick’s effort to ensure the beauty of Werner’s stylish dummy was tainted by a lack of substance.

The reason these stand out when they should not is, for all but one minute of this match, Werner, as a concept, was a disappointment. A vaunted goalscorer who looked nervous at the sight of the net despite finding it 47 times since the start of last season.

A livewire across the turf encouraging others to do his bidding for him. An off-the-shoulder forward who did not get called offside once. A player vaunted for his directness yet, here, slowing down to take in the scenery.

Even that minute of worth was no minute at all.

Werner opened the scoring from the spot (Getty)

With 56 on the clock, he had possession on the left of the box and cut in as expected. And as the right foot came back with all expecting it to wrap itself around and thrash a bending attempt into the far corner, a dink came instead.

But with Spurs, too, expecting an effort on goal, in waltzed Laimer to take the looped pass beyond Ben Davies with his midriff clattered by the left-back’s right leg. A few moments later, Werner stepped up to sweep the penalty beyond Lloris’ right-hand.

It says a lot of what we expect from dynamic footballers now that you would not be wrong to leave this match and feel somewhat underwhelmed by Werner’s performance.

Maybe in another era, this display minus the goal – heck, this article – might have been of an audition spurned. Really, he should have opened the scoring in the second minute when he shot straight at Lloris after the ball broke to him at the near post. Every duel with Davinson Sanchez saw him on the losing side.

The German's goal was the difference (Getty)

But in the modern game, bad impressions are not really a thing when players are watched over many months by multiple scouts. Liverpool, for instance, will not be any less interested in him after tonight. In fact, they might be keener.

As the game wore on and Spurs pushed for an equaliser, Werner stuck to the left. On the same patch of grass where on the first half he had encouraged Mukiele to take the lead in attack, Werner was there deep in the second to take the lead in defence. Hard work out of possession was no skin off his nose.

By tomorrow, and certainly by the second leg in two weeks time, this relative nonperformance from Werner, in which he gave his side a precious away goal, will be forgotten. But if it is to be remembered for one thing, it should be that he did nothing of his sort and yet was still the difference.