Tottenham sealed their spot in the Champions League Round of 16 with an impressive 2–0 victory away to Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday night.
With pressure mounting on Thomas Frank in recent weeks amid growing criticism from supporters, the Spurs boss responded in style by guiding his side to another crucial European triumph.
Randal Kolo Muani broke the deadlock soon after the restart, before substitute Dominic Solanke continued his fine continental form by scoring for the second Champions League game in a row to wrap up the result.
While Spurs have struggled to find consistency in the Premier League, their European form has told a very different story. The North London side finished fourth in the expanded Champions League league phase, underlining their strength on the continental stage.
Xavi Simons shines against Eintracht Frankfurt
Xavi Simons has faced occasional criticism from Tottenham fans following his £52million move from RB Leipzig in the summer, but the Dutch midfielder has consistently delivered in Europe — and Wednesday was no exception.
Simons was central to almost everything Spurs did well, producing a performance that left Frankfurt chasing shadows for long spells of the match. Although an early goal of his was disallowed just two minutes in, the setback failed to dent his influence as he repeatedly troubled the hosts.
His display didn’t go unnoticed by supporters, who flooded social media with praise after full-time. One fan claimed the 22-year-old “turned into Lionel Messi,” while another went even further by saying Simons had “changed their life.”
Others described him as “top class” and “exceptional,” with some even questioning how Tottenham managed to secure such a talented player during the summer window. Against familiar German opposition, the former Bundesliga standout once again stole the spotlight, with one supporter calling him “beautifully majestic” whenever he faces teams from Germany.
Outstanding stats underline Simons’ dominance
Signed amid high expectations last summer, Simons now appears fully settled at Tottenham — and the rewards are starting to show. He dictated the tempo throughout the Frankfurt clash, delivering a statistical performance that stands out across the competition.
He completed all three of his dribbles, won five free-kicks, and drew constant fouls as Frankfurt struggled to cope with his sharp movement and close control. Simons also created three chances, completed 62 accurate passes, and lost possession just five times from 67 attempts.
His contribution wasn’t limited to attacking play either. A relentless defensive effort saw him win eight ground duels, recover the ball seven times, and post an impressive 73 per cent success rate in challenges.
Combining flair with work rate, Simons capped off a superb all-round performance and showcased exactly why Tottenham invested so heavily in him.
