Editor’s note: Apologies for the lateness of this piece – a combination of time zones, alarm clocks, and other commitments conspired to ensure I would miss the match and take some time to write it up!
Tottenham Hotspur’s final weekend before the kick-off of the 2026/27 Premier League season began with a solid 3-0 preseason win over Bundesliga side TSG Hoffenheim.
In the first of two matches over the weekend against the German side, Roberto De Zerbi named a strong XI that immediately looked to take
the fight to Hoffenheim in front of a buoyant Tottenham Hotspur Stadium crowd. Both sides had chances to score before Richarlison broke the deadlock late in the first half with a smart first-time finish from the penalty spot. The second half, however, was all about Mikey Moore as he scored a double, assisted on both by Mathys Tel.
Here are my top ten talking points from Spurs’ friendly against TSG Hoffenheim.
1. Notable absentees
Roberto De Zerbi has been reasonably consistent with his selections, naming similar starting XIs for the last couple of matches, with the only changes due to injury or unavailability (such as Manor Solomon’s transfer to West Ham United). As such, it’s reasonable to assume the lineup in this match was not worlds away from what we might see against Brentford.
There are though some names we are yet to see in preseason: Pedro Porro will probably take some time to re-acclimate, returning to the club after his World Cup win only a couple of days ago, but the likes of Rodrigo Bentancur, Micky van de Ven, Destiny Udogie, and James Maddison have not been sighted this season, and Mateus Fernandes’ involvement has been limited, with potential fitness concerns surrounding all of them. Will any of them be available for the squad against Brentford? Tomorrow’s team list in the second fixture against Hoffenheim might provide some hints.
2. Passing from deep
Marcos Senesi saw his first start for Spurs, and what was immediately noticeable was the quality on the ball from the triumvirate of Senesi, Jan Paul van Hecke, and Antonin Kinsky. Though at times they were guilty of overplaying their hands, the passing range on display was stunning.
As Hoffenheim lined up in a classic “two banks of four” defensive setup, pressing with a front two, the aforementioned three players were often able to bypass not just one line of defense, but multiple, with passes often played into the feet of Richarlison or Conor Gallagher who would drop in between the defensive and midfield lines. These line-splitting passes often enabled Spurs to turn and immediately attack a fractured Hoffenheim backline, minimizing the impact of Spurs’ potential attacking limitations.
At times, however, Spurs’ defense pushed things a little far in possession. After an outstanding first 10-15 minutes, the Lilywhites began to lose some of their control of the match, often due to being slightly too aggressive on the ball and exposing the defense. De Zerbi will need to work with the players to get that balance right.
3. In-game tweaks
Part of that balancing act was in-game fluidity and tweaks made to the build-up structure to respond to Spurs’ lack of control. Spurs started with Archie Gray at right back, typically holding deep while Andy Robertson on the other side was free to get forward. Lucas Bergvall often acted as the key recipient from the defense in midfield, while Sandro Tonali took more of a roaming brief.
That changed somewhat as the first half wore on: Gray began to take up more advanced positions, with Lucas Bergvall often dropped into the right back areas while Sandro Tonali came more centrally. There were other examples of these structural shifts throughout the match as well, as De Zerbi was hands-on with his game management to ensure that his side stayed on the front foot.
4. The double pivot
There have been changes through preseason as to how De Zerbi has used his midfield as well. What we say today, though, was a double pivot in probably the truest sense of the term, moreso than at any other time in recent history. Both Lucas Bergvall and Sandro Tonali took turns sitting deep while the other forayed forward, with neither afraid to get on the ball in deep positions.
This two-way approach gave Spurs options and flexibility in build-up, as well as keeping the opposition defense guessing as Tonali and Bergvall would cleverly alternate in ghosting forward, with their movement often not picked up by opposition defenders.
The only questions you could potentially have of this pair are whether their technical skillset is quite at the level needed to play against the midfield of a top Premier League side; and if they were slightly defensively light. Bergvall especially was beaten too easily at times through the middle of the park, but there’s a good argument that the positivity the pair offered was more than worth it.
5. Robertson’s crossing
Though Andy Robertson’s limitations in defense have been more than noticeable this preseason (more on that later as well), there’s no doubting his quality in the attacking third. In fact, Robertson is potentially Spurs’ most dangerous fullback around the opposition 18-yard area, with his passing range and ability to pick out a player in the box huge for Spurs’ chance generation.
One early moment saw him drive a low cross across the face of goal that was not met by an attacker, before he made the next one count: picking out Richarlison on the penalty spot with an inch-perfect pass to create the opening goal.
6. Richarlison scores goals
There are a lot of criticisms you could level at Richarlison, but one thing you can’t criticize him for is his ability to sniff out a goal-scoring opportunity. His movement in and around the box is excellent, and his finishing is generally very good. His goal was very well taken, sweeping home coolly first time from Andy Robertson’s pass, in a finish that was pure Richy.
If his fitness woes are behind him, Richy has a very real chance this season to make a real contribution to Spurs’ campaign; but his other limitations could restrict his opportunities if Spurs sign another striker. In some ways, if you could combine him and Dominic Solanke, you’d have the perfect striker: Richy’s finishing and box movement, as well as Solanke’s linking and hold-up play. Unfortunately, we don’t live in a perfect world, and if you don’t have goalscoring wingers in your squad a la Brennan Johnson, it probably makes more sense to play the forward who will put it in the goal.
7. The penalty that wasn’t
There have been a few occasions this preseason where Spurs could have been awarded a penalty, and that’s without even talking about last season. Potentially Spurs want all the non-calls out of their system before the next edition of the Premier League kicks off, because there was another nailed-on spot kick that went begging today.
West Ham alum Vladimir Coufal led with a raised forearm on Senesi in Hoffenheim’s box, shoving the Argentine over as a corner was delivered, with the Spurs defender immediately protesting to the referee for a spot kick. Nothing was awarded despite the clear contact from the Hoffenheim fullback.
8. Mikey Moore’s moment
It was a triumphant return to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for academy product Mikey Moore. Though he at times struggled a little in build-up, he was very effective in the attacking third, causing conniptions for the Hoffenheim defense.
He was somewhat more direct in his attack coming off the right than I’ve seen, with his previous modus operandi holding width and trying to find a way past his fullback to the byline. Today, though, he looked comfortable cutting in on his left as well, creating genuine uncertainty in his marker, and combining that with smart attacking runs off the ball.
It was the latter that delivered his two goals: his movement for the first was (dare I say) Brennan Johnson-esque, sneaking inside his defender to knock home from Tel’s cutback, before his late arrival in the box down the right paired with a fantastic first touch off Tel’s pass and smart finish through the defender’s legs saw Moore secure his second (and Spurs’ third).
It was an impressive display, though important to note this is still preseason. More than a statement of readiness for Spurs’ XI, it was a signal of the importance of a good loan for his development: Moore could be the real deal, and if he sticks around and Spurs make the attacking signings that have been rumored, Moore could see his progression stunted and never realize his phenomenal potential.
9. Defensive deficiencies
Though the scoreline was one-sided, the match wasn’t. Hoffenheim had multiple chances, with Spurs often quite open at the back. The aforementioned on-ball decisions by Spurs were at times responsible, but on other occasions a lack of cohesion and poor defending created space for the Hoffenheim attack, particularly Adam Hlozek, who was unlucky not to score from one of his two shots.
Van Hecke was at times either too overeager or too conservative in his shutting down of attackers; Robertson often would lose track of his mark and/or the ball, a common occurrence as well in the Chelsea match; and Senesi’s positioning was sometimes very loose. Some of this can be blamed on the players getting to know one another, and it is early days… but with the season kicking off next weekend, De Zerbi will want to see things tighten up.
10. Squad management
There’s been a really cohesive approach to managing the squad this preseason, with minutes limited and spread around early on, before beginning to methodically increase the minutes of the more senior players of the squad as we draw closer to the season proper.
Today was no different, with De Zerbi naming a strong side likely not far away from next weekend’s XI, with all players on the pitch seeing at least 80 minutes, ensuring a good chunk of Spurs’ squad will be at match fitness levels for Brentford.
Tomorrow will likely be similar, though potentially with a different set of players, with my prediction being today’s XI will be rested and some of the absentees plus a cadre of youth players will feature to build their own fitness.
It feels like smart preparation that will set Spurs in good stead for the season ahead.
Screw it, we’re gonna win the league.
