Xavi Simons scores twice as Tottenham win but bow out of Champions League
By George Sessions, Press Association
Tottenham bowed out of the Champions League but only after a rip-roaring last-16 second leg with Atletico Madrid where Xavi Simons’ brace helped them to a first home victory in two months.
Spurs had lurched from one crisis to another in 2026 and a shambolic 5-2 loss in Madrid last week left Igor Tudor on the brink, but a spirited 1-1 draw at Liverpool restored belief and the north London club clawed back more pride on Wednesday despite a 7-5 aggregate defeat.
Randal Kolo Muani’s 30th-minute opener gave Tottenham a glimmer of hope before Julian Alvarez levelled early in the second half for Atletico.
Simons replied immediately to increase optimism, but David Hancko’s 75th-minute equaliser virtually put the tie to bed.
There was still time for Simons to score a spot-kick in stoppage time to end Spurs’ eight-match winless run with a 3-2 victory and extend an unbeaten home record in Europe to 25 matches, but all eyes now turn to Premier League survival and Sunday’s crucial visit of Nottingham Forest.
