Tottenham Hotspur manager Igor Tudor faces a near-impossible task in Madrid on Tuesday, attempting to overturn a three-goal deficit in the Champions League with a squad decimated by one of the most severe injury crises in recent memory.
The north London club must defeat a formidable Atletico Madrid side by at least three clear goals at the Metropolitano Stadium to force extra time, a daunting prospect given their 5-2 thrashing in the first leg and a treatment room overflowing with key personnel.
A Squad Stretched to Breaking Point
The scale of Tottenham’s injury list is staggering, with long-term absences gutting the core of the team. Creative linchpin James Maddison is ruled out for the season after tearing his ACL in pre-season, while Dejan Kulusevski (patella) has been absent for almost a year. The midfield has been particularly hard hit, with Rodrigo Bentancur (thigh) and Mohammed Kudus (thigh) both sidelined since January and not expected back until April at the earliest.
Defensive options are equally thin. Veteran Ben Davies broke his ankle in January and, with a potential return in mid-April, may have played his last game for the club as his contract winds down. Wilson Odobert is out until late November with a ruptured ACL, and young Lucas Bergvall is recovering from ankle surgery.
The situation has been exacerbated by fresh blows from the first leg. Centre-back Cristian Romero, who missed the weekend’s Premier League match against Liverpool, is a doubt for Tuesday after suffering a concussion in a sickening clash of heads with teammate Joao Palhinha. Palhinha himself is also a major doubt due to concussion protocols. The club has confirmed that Yves Bissouma is unavailable with a knock, while Destiny Udogie is unlikely to be fit as he nears a return from a hamstring issue.
There is a sliver of positive news, with defender Micky van de Ven available after suspension, though he was at fault for one of Atletico’s goals in the first leg. Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario is confirmed to start.
A Mountain to Climb After First Leg Collapse
Tottenham’s task is made all the more difficult by the comprehensive nature of their defeat at home. Atletico Madrid capitalised on catastrophic early errors to seize control of the tie. Backup goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky, who started the match, was substituted after just 17 minutes following mistakes, while van de Ven’s error directly contributed to the Spanish side’s dominance in a 5-2 victory.
Historically, matches between these two sides have been frenetic. Their only other competitive meetings were the 1963 Cup Winners’ Cup final, which Spurs won 5-1, and this month’s first leg, meaning the average goals per game in this fixture stands at 6.5.
Atletico in Rampant Form
Standing in Tottenham’s way is an Atletico Madrid team in formidable touch. Diego Simeone’s side is third in La Liga and boasts a stellar home record of 13 wins from 15 league games at the Metropolitano this season. They come into the match on the back of a 1-0 win over Getafe, their fourth victory in five games across all competitions.
The Spanish giants have a demanding schedule ahead, facing Real Madrid and Barcelona in quick succession after the Tottenham tie, followed by a Copa del Rey final against Real Sociedad in April. Despite this, Simeone has attempted to apply pressure to the visitors, publicly labelling Spurs as “favourites” due to their higher finish in the Champions League group stage and expressing respect for their offensive threat and set-piece ability.
Pressure Mounts on Tudor
The context makes Tottenham’s challenge seem even steeper. Manager Igor Tudor is reported to be under significant pressure, with the club’s hierarchy already exploring alternatives. He has openly expressed frustration at the club’s injury epidemic, which has contributed to a dismal domestic campaign.
This contrasts sharply with the stability under Simeone, who has masterminded Atletico’s recent success. The Argentine manager has noted the faster pace of Premier League sides but will be confident his experienced team can manage the second leg professionally.
Claims of a “surprise injury boost” for Tottenham, potentially regarding Son Heung-min, appear unfounded based on current information. The South Korean star, whose contract was extended until 2026, announced his departure from the club in August 2025 after suffering a fractured eye socket in November 2024 and a foot injury in April 2025. There is no indication he has returned to the squad for this fixture.
As they travel to the Spanish capital, Tottenham’s season hangs by a thread, with a depleted squad asked to achieve a historic comeback against one of Europe’s most resolute sides.
