Igor Tudor hooks Antonin Kinsky 17 minutes into his Champions League debut

Last Updated on 10 March 2026

Tottenham’s Champions League night in Madrid unravelled almost before it began. What was meant to be a free hit ended up piling on more misery for the Lilywhites.

Spurs found themselves 4-1 down at half-time with Atletico Madrid scoring four for the first time in their Champions League history.

However, the spotlight was on Antonin Kinsky, who was taken off only 17 minutes into his Champions League debut by Igor Tudor.

Antonin Kinsky’s nightmare start forces early Tottenham change

Tudor’s gamble in goal backfired within minutes at the Wanda Metropolitano. Kinsky, starting his first Champions League match, struggled to cope with Atletico Madrid’s early pressure.

Two major errors directly contributed to goals that left Tottenham trailing 3-0 before the 20-minute mark. The mistakes forced Tudor into an extraordinary decision rarely seen in elite football, substituting a goalkeeper before the match had properly settled.

As a result, Vicario was thrown back into the spotlight as Kinsky walked off after just 17 minutes. He had been dropped for the game following a difficult domestic campaign and a string of errors.

For Vicario, unfortunately, the moment was brutal. Champions League debuts are supposed to be career milestones but this one became a lesson delivered on the biggest stage.

Could Igor Tudor’s decision backfire after a rout in Madrid?

The goalkeeping chaos highlighted a deeper issue surrounding Tottenham’s priorities this season. Before the match, Tudor had openly suggested that the Champions League was not the club’s primary focus.

With Spurs hovering just one point above the relegation zone in the Premier League, survival has become the club’s most urgent objective. The rotation in Madrid appeared to reflect that reality.

Yet the experiment produced the worst possible optics. Vicario’s return did little to stabilise the situation, with Atletico adding two more as Tottenham collapsed to a staggering 5-1 deficit by the hour mark.

For Spurs’ players and fans, the Champions League campaign had been a glimmer of hope in a tough campaign. And, in football, the most important thing is momentum. A demoralizing drubbing, regardless of the competition, can only make matters worse.