It wasn’t pretty. It wasn’t even close to dominant. But when the final whistle blew at Stade Louis II on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, Tottenham Hotspur walked away with a point — and maybe their Champions League campaign still alive. Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, 28, made eight saves — some of them outright miraculous — to preserve a 0-0 draw against a rampant AS Monaco side that dominated possession, shot 23 times, and had an expected goals (xG) value of nearly 2.5. Meanwhile, Tottenham mustered just two shots on target. The result? A fortunate, fragile, and utterly improbable draw.
Monaco’s Attack, and the One Man Who Stopped It
"He wasn’t just saving shots — he was rewriting the script. That first-half stop on Balogun? That was Premier League level, in Monaco." — Declan Olley, Sky Sports
Even Takumi Minamino, the 30-year-old Japanese forward who came off the bench for Monaco, missed three clear opportunities in the final 15 minutes. One was a tap-in from six yards. Another, a one-on-one with the keeper. The third? A curler that kissed the post. Monaco had the chances. They had the momentum. They had the home crowd roaring. And yet — nothing.
Postecoglou’s Tactical Gamble — And Why It Worked
For all Monaco’s pressure, Ange Postecoglou didn’t ask his team to play like warriors. He asked them to play like survivors. Three changes from Sunday’s loss to Aston Villa FC — Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall, and Richarlison — were all about structure, not flair. Xavi Simons and Djed Spence were benched. Mathys Tel, the 19-year-old French striker, wasn’t even eligible. The message was clear: don’t lose.
And they didn’t. Not because they controlled the game — they didn’t. Not because they created chances — they barely tried. But because Vicario, and a backline that refused to panic, turned chaos into calm. The result? Tottenham’s first goalless draw since March 17, 2023. And more importantly — Postecoglou became the first manager in Tottenham Hotspur history to go unbeaten in his first three Champions League matches: wins over Bayer 04 Leverkusen and SL Benfica, plus this draw.
Why This Draw Feels Like a Loss in Disguise
Here’s the twist: this draw leaves Tottenham in 15th place in the new 36-team Champions League league phase. That’s not a typo. With only the top eight advancing automatically, and 9th to 24th fighting for the last eight knockout spots, being 15th means they’re barely clinging to relevance. They’ve played three games. Two wins, one draw. Four points. Same as FC Barcelona and SL Benfica. But with tougher fixtures ahead, and a defense that looks increasingly fragile, this isn’t a victory. It’s a reprieve.
Monaco, meanwhile, remains in the hunt. Manager Adi Hütter, 54, didn’t lose. He lost the chance to win. And that’s the cruel irony. With 23 shots and an xG of 2.5, they should have won. But football, at its most brutal, doesn’t always reward effort. Sometimes, it rewards one man’s brilliance.
What’s Next? A Crucial Two-Week Run
Tottenham’s next two matches are make-or-break. First, a Premier League trip to Molineux Stadium to face Wolverhampton Wanderers FC on Saturday, October 25. Then, just five days later, the home clash with FC Barcelona at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Wednesday, October 29. That game isn’t just about points. It’s about pride. About proving this draw wasn’t a fluke — but a foundation.
For Monaco, the focus shifts to their next match against SL Benfica. They’ll need to convert chances. They’ll need to stop their own defensive lapses. And they’ll need to remember — at this level, even the best attacks can be undone by one keeper.
Final Thoughts: A Keeper’s Masterclass
Let’s be honest: if Vicario had been playing for anyone else, this match would have been forgotten. A 0-0 draw between two mid-table European sides? Boring. But because he stood between glory and disaster — because he turned Monaco’s onslaught into a footnote — this game will be replayed for years. Not because of tactics. Not because of stats. But because one man, in one moment, refused to let the world forget what a goalkeeper can do when everything’s on the line.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Guglielmo Vicario’s performance compare to other Champions League goalkeeping heroics?
Vicario’s eight saves were the most by any goalkeeper in a single Champions League match since 2023, matching the record set by Alisson Becker in Liverpool’s 2023 win over Real Madrid. What made this different? The quality of chances. Nearly half of Monaco’s shots were from inside the six-yard box — the kind of opportunities that usually end in goals. Vicario turned them into highlights.
Why is Tottenham 15th despite two wins and a draw?
The new 36-team Champions League format awards points based on performance, but also uses tiebreakers like goal difference and head-to-head results. Tottenham has only four points — same as several teams — but their goal difference is -1 (scored 5, conceded 6). Teams like FC Barcelona and SL Benfica have better goal differences despite similar points, pushing Spurs down the table. It’s not about wins — it’s about margins.
What does this mean for Ange Postecoglou’s future at Tottenham?
Postecoglou’s unbeaten start in Europe is historic — and a huge boost to his credibility. But Premier League fans are growing impatient. Tottenham sit 11th in the league, just three points above the relegation zone. If they lose to Wolverhampton Wanderers FC and fail to beat FC Barcelona, the pressure will intensify. This draw bought him time — but not much.
Why was Mathys Tel not in the squad?
Tottenham submitted their official Champions League squad list before the season, and Tel, despite being 19, was left off. The club prioritized experience over youth in European competition. He’s eligible for domestic matches, but UEFA rules require clubs to register players for the Champions League by a strict deadline. His absence was administrative, not tactical — though it likely cost Tottenham a spark in attack.
Has any team ever drawn 0-0 with more than 20 shots and still lost the match?
Yes — and often. In fact, since 2020, there have been 17 Champions League matches where a team had over 20 shots and failed to score. The most recent before this was AC Milan vs. Manchester City in 2024, where City had 27 shots and still lost 1-0 on a counter. But Monaco’s 23 shots and 2.5 xG make this one of the most statistically improbable draws in recent memory.
What’s the significance of Stade Louis II’s capacity and location?
Stade Louis II, located in Fontvieille, Monaco-Ville, holds just 16,360 fans — one of the smallest venues in the Champions League. That intimacy creates a hostile, loud atmosphere that often unnerves visiting teams. Yet Tottenham, despite being outplayed, never looked rattled. Vicario’s calmness under pressure may have been the only thing that neutralized the home advantage. For Monaco, the small crowd also means less revenue — making every point in Europe even more valuable.
