Champions League 2025/26: Tottenham Hotspur held to 0-0 draw against Monaco; Sporting loses 10-man Marseille

Monaco’s poor start to the 2025/2026 UEFA Champions League season continued as they were held to a 0–0 draw at home by Tottenham Hotspur in new coach Sebastien Pocognoli’s first match in charge of the competition.

The Ligue 1 side, who have two points from three games, had the clearest chances, but Tottenham keeper Guglielmo Vicario proved decisive between the posts.

Tottenham, who conceded more than 20 shots in a one-sided encounter, are 15th in the table with 36 teams on five points, while Monaco are 27th, in the elimination zone.

Monaco next face Bodo/Glimt, while Spurs will entertain Copenhagen.

The host started strongly in Stade Louis-II and continued high and threatening through Maghnes Akliouche and Mamadou Coulibaly.

Folarin Balogun had the first clear chance after 10 minutes and escaped down the right before Vicario blocked his shot. Akliouche then forced another save with a curling effort from the left.

Vicario, who made eight saves that evening, continued to keep Tottenham afloat after the break.

First, the Italian frustrated Aleksandr Golovin by diving sharply to his left to parry the Russian midfielder’s right-footed curling shot, which headed for the far corner in the 67th minute.

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Eight minutes later he denied Dutch defender Jordan Teze, whose powerful close-range header from Caio Henrique’s cross was pushed away as the Spurs keeper’s reflexes again kept a clean sheet despite Monaco’s continued pressure.

Sporting produces late rally against Marseille with 10 men

Geny Catamo and Alisson Santos came off the bench in the second half to inspire hosts Sporting to a late 2-1 comeback win over Olympique de Marseille.

Ligue 1 leaders Marseille, who have won five games in all competitions, fell to 18th with three points, while Sporting climbed to 11th with six points with their second win in the competition.

The hosts tried to apply pressure from the start, but Igor Paixao put Marseille ahead in the fourteenth minute. He collected Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s cross-field pass on the left before cutting inside his marker and curling a fine shot into the far corner for his third goal in as many Champions League games this season.

Marseille looked set to double their lead just before half-time when they were awarded a penalty for an apparent foul on Emerson Palmieri. However, following a VAR review, the decision was overturned and in a dramatic twist, the Brazilian was shown a second yellow card for simulation.

With its numerical advantage, Sporting pushed forward while Marseille sat deeper to protect its lead.

Geovany Quenda’s pace repeatedly caused the visitor problems, with 18-year-old Geronimo forcing Rulli to push his shot onto the post before goalkeeper Joao Simoes denied with his legs.

The pressure finally paid off in the 69th minute when Catamo came off the bench to draw Sporting level with a sharp low strike, with the equalizer standing after a VAR review overturned an initial offside decision.

Santos sealed the comeback in the 86th minute by cutting inside from the left and firing a deflected shot into the top corner.

Sporting’s Maximiliano Araujo was shown a red card in stoppage time, but VAR downgraded it to yellow, allowing the hosts to earn the win with all eleven players on the pitch.

Published on October 23, 2025