Tottenham held to 1-1 draw by Leicester City in 2024/25 Premier League opener

In the opening match of the Premier League season, Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur battled to a 1-1 draw at the King Power Stadium. Both sides had their moments, but neither could claim all three points in a game marked by injuries and late drama.

Tottenham, under the guidance of Ange Postecoglou, started strongly, dominating possession and creating the first clear-cut chances.

Within the first six minutes, Rodrigo Bentancur and Brennan Johnson tested Leicester's defense with a header and a volley, respectively, but both efforts were saved.

New signing Dominic Solanke then had his first opportunity with a header in the 8th minute, but his attempt was easily gathered by Leicester's goalkeeper Hermansen.

The breakthrough came in the 29th minute, almost as an inevitable consequence of Tottenham's dominance. Pedro Porro rose highest to meet a pinpoint cross from James Maddison, heading the ball past Hermansen to give Spurs a deserved lead.

At that point, Tottenham had controlled 70% of the possession and completed 65 passes in the final third, showcasing their attacking intent.

Leicester, managed by Steve Cooper, found it difficult to gain a foothold in the first half, but they showed more resilience after the break.

Their persistence paid off in the 57th minute when Jamie Vardy, ever the thorn in Tottenham's side, equalized with a well-taken goal. The veteran striker latched onto a clever pass from Issahaku, slotting the ball past Guglielmo Vicario to bring the Foxes level.

Tottenham held to 1-1 draw by Leicester City in 2024/25 Premier League opener

The match took a worrying turn for Tottenham in the 70th minute when Rodrigo Bentancur went down after a heavy challenge in the opposition's box.

The Uruguayan midfielder had to be stretchered off, a concerning sight for Spurs fans. He was replaced by the 18-year-old Archie Gray, who made his official debut for the club alongside fellow debutant Lucas Bergvall.

Both youngsters had impressed during pre-season and were now thrust into the Premier League spotlight.

The final minutes of the match were tense, especially after Pedro Porro appeared to injure himself following a collision with a Leicester player.

The Spanish right-back was visibly in pain and limped off the field, adding to Tottenham's injury woes. Despite the setback, Porro seemed to improve, though he was not fully recovered by the end of the match.

With nine minutes added due to the stoppages, the game saw some late substitutions. Dejan Kulusevski, Timo Werner, and Djed Spence all came on to try and snatch a winner for Spurs, while Richarlison replaced Son Heung-min in the dying moments.

Despite the late push, neither side could find a decisive goal, and the match ended 1-1. While Tottenham will be pleased with their first-half performance, the injuries to Bentancur and Porro will be a cause for concern as they look ahead to the rest of the season.

On the other hand, Leicester will be content with the point, especially after a resilient second-half display. Both teams will have plenty to reflect on as they prepare for their next fixtures.