At the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Matchday 3Stade Louis II on October 22, 2025, AS Monaco outplayed Tottenham Hotspur in every way except the scoreboard — and it was Guglielmo Vicario who made the difference. The Tottenham goalkeeper, a 28-year-old Italian shot-stopper, produced eight extraordinary saves to preserve a 0-0 draw that felt more like a moral victory for the visitors than a fair result. Monaco, the home side, dominated with 65% possession, 23 shots, and nearly 2.5 expected goals — yet came away empty-handed. For Tottenham, it was their first goalless draw since March 2023. For Monaco, it was their first clean sheet of the season — and a crushing disappointment.
Monaco’s Attack, Unanswered
From the opening whistle, AS Monaco pressed like a team desperate to break their Champions League scoring drought. Folarin Balogun, the 24-year-old American striker formerly of Arsenal, was the focal point. At 26', a curling cross from French international Maghnes Akliouche nearly found the net — only for Vicario to palm it away. Two minutes later, Balogun had a golden one-on-one chance. He drove forward, feinted right, and fired low — Vicario stretched, fingertips grazing the ball, sending it wide. At 36', Balogun tried again, this time from a tight angle. Vicario’s reflexes were flawless. The crowd roared. The net stayed still.
By halftime, Monaco had 14 shots — 10 on target. Tottenham? Two. And one of those was a 30-yard volley from Richarlison that sailed well over. The Brazilian forward, 27, was booked at 47' for a reckless challenge — the only caution of the match. It wasn’t just about shots; it was about control. Monaco completed 712 passes. Tottenham managed 398. Monaco had 14 corners. Tottenham had two. This wasn’t pressure. It was a siege.
Vicario’s Masterclass
But here’s the twist: Guglielmo Vicario didn’t just make saves. He made them look routine. His denial of Balogun’s first chance was textbook positioning. His stoppage-time block on Jordan Teze’s point-blank header? That was world-class. Sky Sports called it his best save of the season — and they weren’t exaggerating. The Italian, who joined Tottenham in January after a breakout year at Empoli, looked calm under relentless pressure. He didn’t dive. He didn’t panic. He just… stopped everything.
Even when Monaco’s substitutes entered — Takumi Minamino for Myron Boadu at 70', Benjamin Biereth for Balogun at 83' — the pattern didn’t change. Minamino, the former Liverpool attacker, had three clear chances in the final 15 minutes. Each time, Vicario was there. One was a curling shot from the edge of the box. Another, a rebound off the post. The third? A header from six yards that Vicario caught like a soccer ball in a backyard game.
Tottenham’s Defensive Discipline — and Lack of Threat
It’s hard to call Tottenham’s performance brave. More like passive. They had 35% possession. They didn’t attempt a single shot inside the penalty area until the 80th minute. Their midfield trio of Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall, and Richarlison (playing deeper than usual) spent most of the night retreating. Manager Thomas Frank — in his first Champions League campaign — had his team sit deep, absorb pressure, and hope for counters. It worked. Barely.
And yet, it’s hard to ignore the numbers. Tottenham’s two shots on target were the fewest they’ve managed in any Champions League match since 2019. Their passing accuracy (78%) was below their season average. They didn’t create a single clear-cut chance. But they got a point. And that’s what matters in the standings — even if it feels like a fluke.
What This Means for Both Teams
For AS Monaco, this is a missed opportunity with teeth. They’re now 12th in the Champions League table, just one point above the drop zone. Their home form has been poor — three draws, one loss. They’ve scored just three goals in four home matches this season. The frustration among fans was palpable. One supporter shouted, "We’re playing football, not ping-pong!" — a reference to how Monaco kept possession but couldn’t finish.
For Tottenham Hotspur, the draw keeps Thomas Frank unbeaten in his first three Champions League games — a first for any Spurs manager. But they’re still 15th. That’s not sustainable. They’ve conceded just one goal in the group stage — thanks to Vicario — but they’ve scored only two. That’s not a team built to win trophies. It’s a team built to survive.
What’s Next?
Both teams return to action on November 5–6 for Matchday 4. Monaco hosts Bayern Munich — a nightmare fixture. Tottenham travels to Real Madrid. And in between? Tottenham plays Chelsea in the Premier League on November 1 — a match that could define their season. If Vicario keeps this form up, they might survive. But if they don’t start creating chances, survival won’t be enough.
Background: A Pattern of Near Misses
This isn’t the first time Monaco has dominated and lost. In 2024, they had 21 shots against Manchester City and still lost 1-0. Last season, they had 19 shots and two penalties against Napoli — and drew 0-0. They’re the masters of possession without purpose. Meanwhile, Tottenham’s reliance on Vicario is becoming a crutch. In 2023, they lost 3-1 to Liverpool despite having 60% possession — because their defense was porous. Now, they’re winning with a wall. It’s not sustainable. But for now? It’s working.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Guglielmo Vicario’s performance compare to past Champions League goalkeeping heroics?
Vicario’s eight saves tied for the most in a single Champions League match this season, matching the record set by Real Madrid’s Andriy Lunin in September against Porto. Only three keepers in the last five years have made more than eight saves in a 90-minute game — and none of them were from teams that finished with just two shots on target. His performance ranks among the most one-sided goalkeeping masterclasses in recent memory.
Why did Tottenham play so defensively against Monaco?
Manager Thomas Frank prioritized avoiding defeat over attacking ambition, especially with key players like Mathys Tel missing due to registration issues and Xavi Simons on the bench. With Spurs sitting 15th in the group, Frank knew a point was valuable. He opted for a compact 5-4-1 shape, asking his midfield to shield the backline. It worked — but it’s not a long-term strategy for a club with Champions League ambitions.
What does this result mean for AS Monaco’s Champions League hopes?
Monaco’s chances of advancing are now slim. With only three points from three games and a goal difference of -3, they need to win their final three matches — including away at Bayern and Real Madrid — and hope for other results to go their way. Their inability to convert dominance into goals is their biggest weakness. Without a clinical finisher, they’ll keep losing games they control.
Is Guglielmo Vicario now Tottenham’s most important player?
Absolutely. With only two goals scored in three Champions League matches, Vicario has been the difference-maker. He’s kept two clean sheets and made 21 saves across the group stage — more than any other keeper in the competition. If Tottenham qualifies, it’ll be because of him. Without him, they’d have zero points. He’s not just a goalkeeper — he’s their only offensive weapon.
Why didn’t Monaco make more attacking substitutions earlier?
Manager Adi Hütter stuck with his starting trio of Balogun, Boadu, and Akliouche until the 70th minute, possibly fearing defensive gaps. He waited until the 83rd minute to bring on Benjamin Biereth — a natural finisher — which was too late. His earlier substitutions were for midfielders, not strikers. In a match where they had 23 shots, only three came from substitutes. That’s a tactical misstep.
What’s the significance of Mathys Tel being absent from Tottenham’s squad?
Tel, a 22-year-old French winger with electric pace, was left out because Tottenham failed to register him for Champions League competition before the deadline. That’s a club administrative failure. He’s their most dynamic attacker in transition — and without him, they lacked the spark to break down Monaco’s deep block. His absence was a silent factor in their inability to create any real counterattacks.