Tottenham vs Monaco match report: Mauricio Pochettino's men fluff their lines on first night at Wembley

Tottenham Hotspur 1 Monaco 2: Bernardo Silva and Thomas Lemar's strikes spoil Spurs' return to European football's top club competition

Kane missed a glorious chance to level the score (Getty)

This was a special night that will always be part of Tottenham Hotspur’s history, a night when 85,011 people came to watch them in the Champions League, the highest home attendance by any English club. But when the game started and the points were at stake, it could not have gone much worse.

Spurs lost 2-1 to Monaco, a result that makes their prospects of qualifying from Group E so much harder. Spurs were on the front foot for much of this game but ultimately they were taught a lesson in the efficiency, discipline and nerve required in this competition.

Tottenham did a lot of running and pushing but that this level that is not enough. They created chances but only had the cool nerves to score one, a header from a corner from Toby Alderweireld. By that point Spurs were already 2-0 down, having conceded two very preventable goals to the first two times that Monaco went forward.

Spurs might have looked unfortunate, but in reality they committed the rookie mistakes of a team with no experience at this level. Monaco are not exactly European royalty, but Leonardo Jardim did at least take them to the quarter-finals of this competition in 2015, knocking out Arsenal along the way. And here they managed the occasion perfectly: scoring their two early chances, sitting deep and managing the game in the second half. By the end, as Spurs wearily threw men forward in futile pursuit of an equaliser, Portuguese pair Joao Moutinho and Bernardo Silva cranked up their passing carousel, and Spurs could not get off.

Silva strikes to open the scoring for Monaco at Wembley (Getty)

Ultimately that was the difference between the sides, and no number of fans, or volume of enthusiasm, could bridge that gap. These Champions League games are decided so much by details of preparation and execution, and those details all went Monaco’s way.

Tottenham created the first good real chance, as Harry Kane’s cross from the right fell to Heung-Min Son at the far post. He did not want to hit the ball with his left foot, delayed, and by the time he shot with his right Andrea Raggi had recovered back onto the line.

When Monaco had their first chance, they were more assertive and more effective. Fabinho won a loose ball in midfield from Erik Lamela. Silva picked it up and drove forward away from Ben Davies. Jan Vertonghen backed off, so Silva accepted the invitation and drove the ball left-footed into the far corner of the net.

The next time Monaco ventured forward Spurs were even more hospitable to them. Joao Moutinho easily made space for Djibril Sidibe to cross, and Ben Davies could not clear the ball at the near post. It fell to Thomas Lemar, in too much room, and he lashed it into the net.

This great experiment could not have started any worse for Spurs, but to their credit they did not fold, and continued to push up until the break. They were rewarded when Toby Alderweireld headed in Erik Lamela’s corner, an atmosphere-changing goal. When Alli nearly converted Lamela’s cross in added time, a positive result felt possible again.

That optimism was catalysed further when Pochettino brought on Mousa Dembele at half-time, for his first Spurs appearance since the Stamford Bridge melt-down on 2 May, and the first time since then Spurs have had their first-choice front six on the pitch together.

With Dele Alli pushed further forward, Spurs were more dangerous, and Danijel Subasic had to tip over his dipping volley from distance.

Alderweireld headed his side back into the contest (Getty)

This was Spurs’ best spell of the game and they had to take advantage. But Kane had their best chances and could not take them. First he gave Jemerson time to recover and shot straight at the Brazilian centre-back, then he shot at Subasic after good work by substitute Vincent Janssen.

Then Pochettino turned to Moussa Sissoko, the new £30million man, for more presence and pace. But the longer the game went on the more comfortable Monaco were, with Moutinho and Silva scuttling around in midfield, directing the play, and Spurs could not lay a finger on them. By the end it was all a bit desperate, snatching at shots from distance, and Monaco could close out the win with some ease. Spurs have a lot to learn, and not much time to learn it.

Tottenham (4-2-3-1): Lloris; Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Davies; Dier (Sissoko, 80), Alli; Lamela (Janssen 74), Eriksen, Son (Dembele, 45); Kane

Monaco (4-2-3-1): Subasic; Raggi, Glik, Jemerson, Sidibe; Fabinho, Bakayoko; Dirar (Lemar, 5), Moutinho, Silva; Falcao (Germain, 80)

Man of the match: Moutinho

Match rating: 7/10