Wasteful Monaco held by Tottenham

AS Monaco were unable to convert any of their chances in the Matchday four clash of the UEFA Champions League at Stade Louis-II against Tottenham Hotspur.

The hosts created a plethora of chances in a game they produced 23 shots, with right on target and nothing to show for it than a stalemate at home against a tired Spurs side that eventually managed to get a point away from home.

Guglielmo Vicario replied to his critics with some saves that eventually gave the North London club valuable points, while Takumi Minamino was wasteful with good chances presented to him on three occasions.

The closest the Premier League side came to scoring in the game was when  Micky van de Ven headed the ball narrowly off target.

Vicario made four fine saves in the first half; three came from former Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun, and then another clawed effort to deny Maghnes Akliouche.

Spurs, who were lacking spark in a game in which they only produced a shot on target, had to put in a battling defensive display.

Vicario saved the day for the visitors when, after the break again thwarted Akliouche and Balogun. The Italian goalie later produced the pick of his saves as he brilliantly blocked Jordan Teze’s header from point-blank range.

Spurs manager Thomas Frank will be thanking former Liverpool midfielder Minamino, who missed three more opportunities in the second half, for making him take something away from this game as well.

Apart from Van de Ven’s header and a half-chance for Richarlison, which was the only shot on target, Spurs spent most of the game in survival mode, seemingly happy to settle for a draw as the clock wound down.

Monaco’s next Champions League match will be away to Bodo/Glimt on November 4, and then travel to Paphos on November 26.

Tottenham will host FC Copenhagen in their next Champions League match on November 4, with a trip to the Parc des Princes against Paris Saint-Germain to follow.