Tottenham key talking points: Derby deja vu as Olympiakos fight back against many below-par performances

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Dan Kilpatrick @Dan_KP18 September 2019

For the second time this month, Tottenham threw away a two-goal lead to raise worrying questions about their game-management and mentality.

Just as in the 2-2 draw at Arsenal, Pochettino's side were cruising towards half-time with a commanding lead and were as close as possible to silencing Olympiakos' infamous 'Gate 7' ultras.

But just as they were beginning to resemble an experienced Champions League side – the type of team that wins these treacherous away games without really deserving to – they conceded seconds before the interval, squandering the momentum entirely. Winger Podence is a hidden gem but he was given far too much space to burst from deep and fire across Hugo Lloris.

It was the time when Spurs should have been shutting up shop but Ben Davies and Jan Vertonghen were both caught upfield. With the wind in their sails and the raucous crowd behind them, it was no great surprise when Olympiakos equalised ten minutes after the interval, Valbuena sending Lloris the wrong way after he was fouled by Vertonghen.

Like at Arsenal, Spurs did well to stem the tide and they looked the more likely winners late on – a Lloris flap aside – when substitutes Heung-min Son and Erik Lamela menaced the Greeks' weary defence. But Spurs should never have been in a position of needing to rally and it all came down to the sloppy first goal. Manager Mauricio Pochettino will understandably be frustrated and will be asking himself why the same thing has happened twice in two weeks.

Action Images via Reuters

Vertonghen off the pace

As one of Spurs' most experienced players, at this and any level, Jan Vertonghen's performance was worryingly below par.

At his best, the Belgian is a stylish centre-half who never makes mistakes but he was at least partly at fault for both Olympiakos' goals, and generally struggled with their impressive front three.

Vertonghen, who has entered the final year of his contract, was caught too high for Podence's crucial strike as the Portuguese ghosted between him and Davies before firing past Lloris. Valbuena made a spectacular meal of the penalty incident but it was a clumsy and needless foul, and Vertonghen should have known better.

He is now 32 – no spring chicken – and he started the season being frozen out by Pochettino, before injuries forced a rethink. On this evidence, Vertonghen is still getting up to speed, so do not be surprised to see a partnership of Sanchez and Toby Alderweireld against Leicester on Saturday.

Action Images via Reuters

Lucas a man for these Champions League nights

Lucas Moura scored another brilliant Champions League goal to enhance his reputation as a European specialist and a man for the big nights under lights.

The Brazilian's exploits in Amsterdam need no retelling, of course, but he impressed for Spurs throughout last season's dreamlike run to the final and also scored crucial goal against PSV Eindhoven and Barcelona.

With the Karaiskakis Stadium still recovering from Kane's penalty, Lucas collected Davies' well-weighted pass and curled a beautiful strike past Jose Sa. Whether it is a question of system or style or simply feel, Lucas looks more at home for Spurs in Europe than he does in the Premier League and it would make sense for Pochettino to save him for these nights in future.

AFP/Getty Images

Winks brilliant but Ndombele needs patience

Spurs paid a club record £65million fee for Tanguy Ndombele, largely because of his performances for Lyon in the Champions League last season, notably in the two matches against Manchester City. But Pochettino has preached patience with the Frenchman and this evening was a reminder of why.

Ndombele seemed to take the longest to acclimatise to the occasion and atmosphere, repeatedly giving the ball away cheaply in the first 20 minutes. He never really looked comfortable in possession and was replaced by Moussa Sissoko midway through the second half.​ Ndombele is clearly a talent but he will take time to get up to speed in this Spurs side.

His subdued performance was all the more noticeable because Winks was by far Spurs' standout player, driving them forward from deep with a constant stream of snappy passes. The England international has started the season superbly and if he stays fit he will become increasingly important for Pochettino and Gareth Southgate.

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