Simons stars but Spurs crash out of Champions League despite win over Atlético Madrid

There has been the feeling at too many points of this traumatic season for Tottenham that they only play when the result is beyond them. This Champions League last-16 tie looked that way when Atlético Madrid went 4-0 up after 22 minutes of the first leg last Tuesday and nobody gave Spurs a prayer of overturning the final scoreline from the Metropolitano of 5-2.

They played here. It was a strange evening because there were times when the hope did crackle. Spurs had massive chances for a two-goal lead on the night. Mathys Tel at 1-0 towards the end of the first half; Pedro Porro at 2-1 on the hour. There was another in stoppage time for Randal Kolo Muani at 3-2. It was surely too late by then. All of them went begging.