Madrid – Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky experienced a Champions League debut to forget on Tuesday, subbed off after just 17 minutes as Atlético Madrid raced to a commanding lead in the first leg of their round-of-16 tie. The match, played at the Wanda Metropolitano, ended in a 5-2 defeat for Tottenham, marking a low point for the club and a particularly difficult night for the young Czech keeper.
Manager Igor Tudor opted to start Kinsky ahead of regular number one Guglielmo Vicario, a decision that drew scrutiny given Vicario’s recent criticism. The gamble backfired spectacularly, as Kinsky was directly at fault for the opening two goals in a disastrous opening stretch for the visitors.
The nightmare began in the 6th minute. Kinsky received a short goal kick from Cristian Romero but slipped even as attempting a clearance, gifting the ball to Atlético’s Ademola Lookman. Lookman quickly found Julián Álvarez, who laid the ball off for Marcos Llorente to open the scoring. Just eight minutes later, Antoine Griezmann doubled Atlético’s advantage, capitalizing on a defensive lapse from Tottenham’s Micky van den Ven, who lost his footing.
Still, it was the 15th minute that proved to be Kinsky’s undoing. A miskicked backpass against his own foot left Álvarez with a simple tap-in to make it 3-0. Captain Cristian Romero immediately signaled to Tudor, and Kinsky was replaced by Vicario moments later, visibly distraught as he walked straight down the tunnel.
“I’ve been coaching 15 years and I’ve never done that,” Tudor said in his post-match press conference, defending his decision to substitute Kinsky so early. “It was necessary to preserve the guy, preserve the team. It was an incredible situation. Before the game, it was the right choice to do. It was the right decision for me. After this happened, of course it’s effortless to say it wasn’t the right decision. He’s a good goalkeeper. Unfortunately it happened with these mistakes, in a big game. We are fragile, we are weak.”
The early substitution couldn’t stem the tide, as Atlético added a fourth goal through Robin Le Normand immediately after Kinsky’s departure. Pedro Porro managed to pull one back for Tottenham in the 26th minute, but the damage was already done. Atlético ultimately secured a 5-2 victory, leaving Tottenham with a mountain to climb in the second leg.
Kinsky’s 17-minute appearance saw him fail to make a single save and directly contribute to two of Atlético’s goals. According to reports, this marked the first time a goalkeeper had conceded three goals within the opening 17 minutes of a Champions League knockout stage match.
The match highlighted Tottenham’s struggles this season. They entered the tie just one point above the Premier League relegation zone, despite a relatively successful group stage campaign under former manager Thomas Frank, who was subsequently sacked. Tudor’s tenure has gotten off to a rocky start, with this defeat adding to a string of disappointing results, including three losses in London derbies.
The Wanda Metropolitano surface appeared to be a contributing factor to some of the errors, with several players struggling for footing throughout the match. However, Kinsky’s mistakes were undeniable and proved costly for Tottenham.
Antonin Kinsky visibly distraught after being subbed off on 17 minutes.
You have to feel for him. 🤍pic.twitter.com/15m4OpPC1P
— Sleeper Football (@SleeperFooty) March 10, 2026
The defeat leaves Tottenham facing an uphill battle to reach the Champions League quarterfinals. They will need a significant turnaround in the second leg at home to have any chance of progressing. The focus will now shift to how Tudor and the team respond to this crushing defeat and whether they can salvage their season.
Tottenham’s next challenge comes in the Premier League, where they will need to quickly refocus and secure points to distance themselves from the relegation zone. The pressure is mounting on Tudor and his squad to turn their fortunes around.
The second leg against Atlético Madrid is scheduled for next week in London. Tottenham fans will be hoping for a much-improved performance and a display of resilience from their team.
Archysport will continue to provide updates on Tottenham’s season and the Champions League as events unfold.
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