Guglielmo Vicario's stellar performance secured a valuable Champions League point for Tottenham Hotspur in a hard-fought 0-0 draw against AS Monaco at the Stade Louis II on Wednesday. The Italian goalkeeper's heroics were the difference as Spurs withstood a barrage of Monaco attacks to maintain their unbeaten record in the competition.
Monaco dominated the match, registering 23 shots, eight of which were on target, but found Vicario an insurmountable obstacle. The home side's attacking threats, particularly from Maghnes Akliouche and Ansu Fati, caused problems for the Tottenham defense from the outset. Folarin Balogun was repeatedly thwarted by Vicario, who denied the American striker on multiple occasions, including a crucial one-on-one save in the 29th minute.
Spurs struggled to find their rhythm in the first half, with Lucas Bergvall and Richarlison isolated upfront. Wilson Odobert provided occasional sparks, but Tottenham's attacking threat was minimal. Monaco continued to press, and Vicario was called into action again, diving low to save Balogun's curling strike.
The second half saw Monaco intensify their attacks, with Akliouche continuing to create opportunities. Vicario made a smart save at his near post to deny the home side once again. Takumi Minamino, who came on as a substitute in the 70th minute, missed three clear chances in quick succession, further highlighting Monaco's frustration.
Vicario's most crucial intervention came in the 76th minute when he produced a remarkable reflex save to keep out Jordan Teze's close-range header. This save preserved the clean sheet and ensured Tottenham would leave Monaco with a point.
Tottenham had a late chance to steal all three points when Pape Matar Sarr broke away and squared the ball to Brennan Johnson, but Johnson failed to capitalize. Ultimately, the match ended in a stalemate, marking Tottenham's first goalless draw in 125 matches across all competitions.
Micky van de Ven came close to scoring for Tottenham with a header that flew narrowly over the bar, but overall, Spurs offered little in attack. Their game plan appeared to be focused on absorbing pressure and attempting to counter sporadically.
Despite the lack of attacking prowess, Tottenham's defensive resilience, led by Van de Ven and Kevin Danso, played a vital role in securing the draw. Archie Gray, making his Champions League debut, also put in an impressive performance.
Guglielmo Vicario's outstanding performance earned him high praise, with a 9/10 rating, and was described as a "top performance" by the goalkeeper. His saves were crucial in preventing Monaco from taking the lead and ultimately secured a valuable point for Tottenham in their Champions League campaign. The draw leaves Tottenham unbeaten in the Champions League.
