Tottenham beat Borussia Dortmund 2-0 in the Champions League as goals from Romero and Solanke eased pressure on Thomas Frank.
Tottenham Hotspur eased the pressure on head coach Thomas Frank with a convincing 2-0 Champions League win over Borussia Dortmund. The result came at a critical moment following domestic frustration and growing fan unrest. Spurs produced one of their most energetic displays of the season, particularly before the break. Early intensity and discipline set the tone on a night that demanded a response.
Tottenham began with purpose and forced Dortmund backwards from the opening minutes. Their pressure paid off in the 14th minute when Cristian Romero turned in Wilson Odobert’s low cross. The goal settled nerves inside the stadium and lifted the tempo. Spurs continued to press high and deny Dortmund control in midfield.
Dortmund’s task became harder when Daniel Svensson was sent off in the 26th minute. The defender’s high challenge on Odobert was upgraded to a red card after VAR intervention. Spurs exploited the extra space with confidence. Their second goal arrived eight minutes before the interval through Dominic Solanke.
Solanke, making his first start of the season, bundled home after Odobert combined with Pedro Porro down the right. The finish was scrappy but effective, reflecting Tottenham’s hunger. Odobert claimed assists for both goals and tormented Dortmund throughout the half. Spurs went into the break deservedly ahead and in full control.
The hosts could not maintain the same intensity after the restart. Dortmund improved slightly despite being a man down and tried to push higher. Tottenham still created chances, with Randal Kolo Muani failing to convert when through on goal. Guglielmo Vicario preserved the clean sheet with a late save from Nico Schlotterbeck.
Romero led by example at the back and opened the scoring with calm authority. Odobert was the creative spark, repeatedly beating his marker and delivering quality in key moments. Solanke’s goal capped a strong return and offered a timely boost. Vicario’s late intervention ensured Spurs avoided a nervy finish.
Statistically, Tottenham were dominant at home once again in Europe. They recorded 16 shots and limited Dortmund to a single effort on target. Spurs remain unbeaten in 24 European home matches, underlining their comfort on this stage. The red card helped, but the performance was already convincing.
The win lifts Tottenham to fourth in the league phase with one match remaining. They are well placed for automatic qualification to the knockout rounds. Spurs conclude their campaign away at Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday, 28 January. Dortmund face Inter Milan on the same night needing a response to protect their own qualification hopes.
For Frank, the result buys breathing space and restores belief. The challenge now is to translate European confidence into domestic consistency. Spurs have shown what they can produce when intensity and execution align. Sustaining it will define what comes next.
