Report | Hoffenheim 2-3 Spurs

Our goal of reaching the top eight in the league stage of the UEFA Europa League took a big step forward with a big 3-2 win at Hoffenheim on Thursday night.

We started brightly at the PreZero Arena, leading 2-0 inside 23 minutes thanks to goals from James Maddison (three minutes) and Heung-Min Son (22). We could have been out of sight at the break as further chances came and went for Sonny, Richarlison, Pedro Porro and Lucas Bergvall.

Hoffenheim increased the pressure at the start of the second half, were awarded a penalty, but were then reversed by VAR and pulled a goal back through Anton Stach after 68 minutes. Sonny restored our two goal advantage on 77 minutes, a trademark switch and finish, but the home side would not let go and made it 3-2 with a minute remaining, David Mokwa heading home.

That was the last of the scares though and the win means we were fourth at the final whistle, with further MD7 results to follow this evening. The top eight automatically advance to the round of 16, avoiding a two-legged play-off in February. We face Elfsborg in our final league game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium next Thursday, January 30 (8pm).

More to follow…