Tottenham capitalized on their second half numerical advantage thanks to two lethal headers from Richarlison, his first goals since joining the club.
While Son Heung-min is inarguably struggling in front of goal, it was his darting run that got Marseille’s Chancel Mbemba sent off early in the second half.
Spurs bossed proceedings thereafter, with Richarlison showcasing his clinical touch in front of goal. The Brazilian had come close to scoring his first with the club several times in previous matches and finished both headers with unparalleled confidence.
Here’s the player ratings from a crucial opening Champions League win.
Defence
Hugo Lloris 6/10
The Frenchman has reverted back to a few questionable ways recently, at least in terms of distribution. One of his throws to Royal missed terribly. Under no pressure, he opted to punch rather than catch midway through the first half. He also made an excellent save from a long-range Matteo Guendouzi effort.
Cristian Romero 7.5/10
The Argentine was at his tenacious best, harrying and harassing the Marseille front men. He can also hit a perfectly weighted long ball, which he did in the second half to Perisic. It’s great to have him back in the side.
Eric Dier 7/10
Eric Dier made a few good challenges and stood tall in the first half. He is a beacon of confidence and is the main communicator on the side.
Clement Lenglet 7/10
Clement Lenglet had a solid outing, keeping Marseille to the outside for the most part. He hasn’t played a ton since joining the club, but looks like yet another quality addition.
Midfield
Emerson Royal 7/10
Emerson Royal didn’t offer much going forward but was solid defensively. He was withdrawn early for tactical reasons, but played a decent, if not flashy match.
Ivan Perisic 9/10
The Croatian is a master of finding the time and space required to knock in a pinpoint delivery. He always picks the right pass and is unerring with his crosses. Not only does he add quality, but the indefatigable 33-year-old also injects an unrivalled level of professionalism and experience.
Rodrigo Bentancur 7/10
So poised and collected on the ball, Rodrigo Bentancur played proficiently in the heart of midfield. He found life more challenging in the first half, but excelled with the numerical advantage.
Pierre Hojbjerg 8/10
The Dane had a mediocre first half but, thanks to acres more space, played much better when Spurs went a man up. He played in a superb cross that found Richarlison’s head, leading to Spurs’ second goal.
Forwards and Subs
Harry Kane 7/10
Harry Kane played the ball that led to Chancel Mbemba’s red card. He got on the ball as much as he could but was slightly off the mark with his final touch.
Richarlison 10/10
Richarlison scored his first Tottenham goal on the team’s first shot on goal. He finished the header forcefully and can thank Perisic for a sublime delivery.
While Spurs’ No. 9 didn’t impact the match too much beforehand, he is the type of difference maker who can win it in a flash. Lightning struck twice in the 81st minute, when he dispatched a clinical header off the post and in from a superb Hojbjerg cross.
Son Heung-min 7/10
Sonny’s darting run led to Mbemba’s red card. However, Sonny is not shining nearly as brightly as he did last season, at least so far. He snatched at a few shots and is a frustrated figure in front of goal. Though it should only take one before the floodgates open. The red card moment alone deserves a 7/10.
Dejan Kulusevski 8/10
The Swede impacted proceedings immediately, as usual. He went Marseille’s defence, causing fits down the byline.
Ben Davies 7/10
The Welshman had a shaky start, missing the clearance at the back post on a straightforward low cross. In the dying seconds, he fell in front of the ball to make a crucial last-gasp save.