Match ends, Partizan Belgrade 0, Tottenham Hotspur 0.
Partizan BelgradePartizan Belgrade0TottenhamTottenham Hotspur0
Tottenham began their Europa League campaign with a spirited goalless draw against Group C rivals and Serbian league leaders Partizan Belgrade.
The visitors dominated the first half and striker Harry Kane could have put Spurs ahead within 60 seconds only for the crossbar to deny him.
A defensive lapse from Federico Fazio nearly put Danilo Pantic through, but the defender was let off the hook.
Clear chances were rare, though Sasa Ilic wasted a chance from distance.
The result, in what was Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino's first managerial outing in the group stages of the Europa League, was an adequate reflection of the match.
Serbia SuperLiga leaders Partizan, unbeaten in 11 games in all competitions, finished the stronger side but rarely tested goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.
Tottenham, their personnel much-changed from the team which drew 2-2 at Sunderland last weekend, were snappy and compact in the face of Partizan's second-half offensive.
And both teams will be hearted that Asteras Tripolis and Besiktas drew 1-1, leaving all four Group C sides with a point each after the opening round.
Perhaps the visitors will rue not creating more - or at least hitting the target - during what was a comfortable first half for Pochettino's men.
They were bright and energetic and, despite the uneven surface and the raucous atmosphere, dictated and monopolised possession.
It was only the crossbar which prevented Kane, starting even though Roberto Soldado had recovered from neck and back problems, from scoring early on.
| Tottenham's first-half stroll | |
|---|---|
| Nine Spurs players attempted more first-half passes than the Partizan player with the most - Nikola Drincic (18). | Partizan had failed to win a match in their last Europa League campaign in 2012/13, drawing three and losing three. |
But for all of Tottenham's endeavour - with Andros Townsend a constant threat - the visitors failed to cause trouble inside Partizan's box and the best chances fell to the 25-time Serbian champions.
Petar Grbic missed an opportunity and Federico Fazio's clumsy attempt at dealing with a long ball nearly put Danilo Pantic through.
Partizan's coach Marko Nikolic had said before the match that his team had "nothing to lose" against the Londoners, and after the break they were more of a reflection of their manager's gung-ho words.
In a bid to halt the wave of white-shirted attacks, Pochettino brought on Erik Lamela and Soldado before the hour and the introduction of the Spaniard nearly paid immediate dividends, with the striker's beautifully-timed cross almost finding Kane.
It was as close as Spurs got to causing Partizan a defensive headache, although extending their unbeaten record in the group stages of this competition to 14 matches will be of some consolation.
At the other end of the pitch, the home team should have posed a greater threat but Ilic's wild shot from distance was as good as it got before the match fizzled out in the final 10 minutes.
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino: "We knew it would be difficult. The result was fair.
"We competed and got a clean sheet. In the end it was a tough game and difficult to do well. We tried. One point was a fair result."
Line-ups
Partizan Belgrade
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 25Lukac
- 6Stankovic
- 3VolkovSubstituted forPetrovicat 55'minutes
- 4Vulicevic
- 13CirkovicSubstituted forMarkovicat 68'minutes
- 18Drincic
- 14GrbicSubstituted forLukaat 85'minutesBooked at 86mins
- 22Ilic
- 30IlicBooked at 57mins
- 55Pantic
- 27Lazovic
Substitutes
- 5Petrovic
- 7Luka
- 10Beko Fofana
- 11Ninkovic
- 12Kljajic
- 17Zivkovic
- 21Markovic
Tottenham
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Lloris
- 33DaviesBooked at 48mins
- 5Vertonghen
- 21Fazio
- 16Naughton
- 25StambouliSubstituted forCapoueat 72'minutes
- 8PaulinhoSubstituted forSoldadoat 60'minutes
- 7Lennon
- 42Bentaleb
- 17TownsendBooked at 34minsSubstituted forLamelaat 59'minutes
- 18Kane
Substitutes
- 6Chiriches
- 9Soldado
- 11Lamela
- 13Vorm
- 15Dier
- 23Eriksen
- 29Capoue
- Referee:
- Alon Yefet
Match Stats
Home TeamPartizan BelgradeAway TeamTottenham
- Possession
- Home36%
- Away64%
- Shots
- Home12
- Away7
- Shots on Target
- Home2
- Away0
- Corners
- Home3
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home8
- Away15
Live Text
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Full Time
Second Half ends, Partizan Belgrade 0, Tottenham Hotspur 0.
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Foul by Etienne Capoue (Tottenham Hotspur).
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Danilo Pantic (Partizan Belgrade) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt missed. Nikola Drincic (Partizan Belgrade) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left.
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Foul by Nabil Bentaleb (Tottenham Hotspur).
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Danko Lazovic (Partizan Belgrade) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Booking
Predrag Luka (Partizan Belgrade) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Etienne Capoue (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Predrag Luka (Partizan Belgrade).
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Foul by Aaron Lennon (Tottenham Hotspur).
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Miroslav Vulicevic (Partizan Belgrade) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Partizan Belgrade. Predrag Luka replaces Petar Grbic.
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Attempt blocked. Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Etienne Capoue (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Sasa Ilic (Partizan Belgrade).
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Roberto Soldado (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Nemanja Petrovic (Partizan Belgrade).
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Foul by Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur).
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Danko Lazovic (Partizan Belgrade) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
