Tottenham’s highly anticipated new chapter began with a heavy 3-0 defeat at the hands of Brentford in west London. Goals from Keane Lewis-Potter, Vitaly Janelt, and Michael Kayode condemned the visitors to a disappointing start, with the team showing little sign of progress from the previous campaign.
Tottenham are planning a major squad overhaul with over £300m set to be invested in new talent this summer, including the anticipated arrivals of Savinho and Omar Marmoush. However, it was Brentford’s club-record signing Mamadou Sangare, who arrived for £41m, that stole the spotlight on the opening weekend.
Archie Gray became the youngest Tottenham captain since Steve Perryman in the 1970s, while Andy Robertson, Jan Paul van Hecke, and Marcos Senesi formed an unfamiliar back line. The lack of cohesion was apparent from the very beginning, as Spurs nearly conceded an own goal within the opening moments.
Sangare’s brilliance powers Brentford’s fast start
Brentford seized control early, with Nathan Collins squandering a golden chance from close range before Sangare orchestrated the opener after 12 minutes. The Malian midfielder combined neatly on the edge of the box, sprinted to the byline, and pulled the ball back for Lewis-Potter to slot home.
The home side continued to press forward, with Dango Ouattara forcing a save from Tottenham goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky after being set up by Igor Thiago. Spurs struggled to contain the relentless pressure as Brentford exploited the spaces behind the defense.
The second goal arrived in the 33rd minute when Kinsky parried Mathias Jensen’s long-range strike, and Janelt was quickest to react, firing the rebound into the net.
Tottenham’s frustrating half was epitomized by £100m signing Sandro Tonali, who blazed a volley high over the bar from 18 yards when well placed.
New signings unable to spark a Tottenham comeback
De Zerbi attempted to change the course of the game at halftime by bringing on £85m midfielder Mateus Fernandes, but the visitors remained unable to carve out meaningful opportunities.
Brentford sealed the victory with a third goal after Collins headed a corner down at the far post. Sangare’s follow-up effort was saved by Kinsky, but Kayode was on hand to convert the rebound from close range.
The result underscored the significant challenges facing a Tottenham side that has undergone major changes during the summer. The revamped defense looked shaky from the outset, while the expensive additions could not prevent Brentford from dominating the contest.
The Brentford faithful also took the opportunity to taunt former manager Thomas Frank, whose brief tenure at Tottenham last season ended with De Zerbi’s appointment.
Brentford miss penalty as Tottenham’s woes continue
Brentford had the chance to extend their lead further when Rodrigo Bentancur brought down Kevin Schade in the box. However, last season’s top scorer Igor Thiago struck the post with his spot-kick.
For Tottenham, Mikey Moore was the only bright spark on a grim afternoon. The 19-year-old academy graduate tested Brentford goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher on two occasions, but both attempts were kept out.
The 3-0 defeat leaves De Zerbi with plenty of questions to answer after an opening day that exposed the same defensive vulnerabilities that plagued the team last season.