Matchday Live: Bayer Leverkusen v Tottenham

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Just as in the match against City, Spurs visibly tired in the second half, and Leverkusen did what they could to earn their first win of their Champions League campaign.

It didn’t work. And that comes almost exclusively down to Hugo Lloris. Tottenham’s captain made five saves in the second half, including perhaps his most clutch save yet for the club. When Chicharito almost got around the keeper, he stopped the ball just as it was about to cross the goal-line and fell on it. The goal-line cameras later confirmed that it hadn’t passed in.

While Tottenham still enjoyed some forays forward in attack Leverkusen were emboldened by what they’d seen in the first half. They cut down Tottenham’s players time and time again, confident that the referee wasn’t particularly anxious to call fouls.

Tottenham’s chances dried up, even as Mousa Dembélé and Moussa SIssoko came on in the second half. The match would end at 0-0.

Even if it were lopsided, with Tottenham dominating in the first half and Leverkusen in the second, this match still marks progress for both teams. There are some interesting questions about tactics and the officiating that will be asked in the couple days.

Next: Pochettino's Options to Replace Toby Alderweireld

Elsewhere in Group E, CSKA drew with Monaco 1-1. That means that the positions in the table go unchanged, with Monaco on five points, Spurs on four, Leverkusen on three and CSKA on two. Half way through the group stage, and Group E is looking like the tightest of the bunch.

There’s much more to pick apart about this game. Stay tuned to HotspurHQ in the coming days for more coverage.