Timo Werner’s penalty left Tottenham needing to produce another Champions League turnaround as RB Leipzig took charge of their last-16 meeting.
The striker’s 58th-minute spot-kick proved the only goal of the game, earning the Bundesliga outfit a 1-0 win to take back to Germany for the second leg in three weeks’ time, though in truth Jose Mourinho may be relieved that his side are not facing more of a deficit.
With Son Heung-Min joining Harry Kane on the Spurs injury list, Lucas Moura was chosen to lead the line with support from Dele Alli, while Gedson Fernandes was deployed on the right of a four-man midfield.
Julian Naglesmann was without star center-half Dayot Upamecano because of suspension, but there was a start for Ethan Ampadu in midfield, only his second for the club since arriving on loan from Chelsea last summer.
The visitors were almost ahead inside two minutes when wing-back Angelino, on loan from Manchester City, rattled onto the post via the knee of Hugo Lloris, while Steven Bergwijn had what would prove a rare glimpse of goal at the other end, denied by a smart stop from Peter Gulacsi.
Gulacsi was called into action again at the start of the second half, getting down well to push clear after Lucas had deflected Serge Aurier’s cross towards goal, but shortly before the hour mark, it was the hosts that found the breakthrough they deserved.
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Ben Davies was the guilty party, sucked in as Konrad Laimer cushioned the ball past him leaving referee Cuneyt Cakir no choice but to point to the spot, and Werner stepped up to arrow home.