Advantage slips away at Olympiacos

Our 2019/20 Champions League journey began with a share of the spoils as we let slip a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at Olympiacos on Wednesday evening.

Despite a tough start in front of a vociferous home crowd at the Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus, we forged ahead through Harry Kane's penalty before ace Champions League marksman Lucas Moura quickly added a second with a thunderous strike from distance - the first competitive goals Olympiacos had conceded on their own turf since March.

But having done the hard work to get ahead, maximum points evaporated. Like at Arsenal in the Premier League at the start of this month, our lead was halved just before the interval when Daniel Podence fired home and, with their tails up, the hosts were able to draw level shortly after the restart when Mathieu Valbuena won and converted a penalty. Dele Alli and Erik Lamela went close but Olympiacos seemed content with the scoreline and it ended honours even on opening night in Group B.

Mauricio Pochettino made five changes to the team that started against Palace in the Premier League on Saturday, including bringing in Ben Davies and Dele for their first starts of the campaign. Davinson Sanchez also returned in the right-back role - another unrelated similarity to the derby at the Emirates just before this month's international break.

Hugo Lloris was kept relatively busy in the opening stages, forced into a number of sprawling saves including one from Podence's angled drive on six minutes. The hosts then almost grabbed the lead when Valbuena expertly chested Kostas Tsimikas' left-sided cross into the path of Miguel Angel Guerrero, whose low drive struck the post.

Suddenly, with 25 minutes played and somewhat against the pattern of play, a chance came our way as Kane appeared to beat Yassine Meriah as he entered the box from the right, only for his foot to be clipped by the defender as he went to ground. The penalty was given, VAR confirmed it and Kane confirmed what we all expected as the clock ticked into the 26th minute - 1-0 to Spurs. Four minutes later it was 2-0 thanks to a brilliant goal. Davies' pressing saw him steal possession high up the pitch and he squared to last season's semi-final hero Lucas, who took a touch and lashed into the net from 20 yards.

The atmosphere was subdued by the goals but Olympiacos still carried a threat, Giorgos Masouras' effort ballooning over the top when well placed. Half-time was looming and we seemed in control but, when Valbuena turned and slid a low ball through our defence, Podence raced in from the right and hammered home, the ball nestling just inside the far post. The hosts were lifted, the timing of the goal in the lead-up to half-time far from ideal for us - and not for the first time this season.

Nine minutes after the restart, our lead had disappeared completely and the Olympiacos fans were back in full voice. Jan Vertonghen was adjudged to have fouled Valbuena just inside the box and the attacking midfielder dusted himself down to beat fellow countryman Lloris from the penalty spot.

Dele had earlier had an effort ruled out for off-side but might have done better on 65 minutes when he wriggled free in the box, only for goalkeeper Jose Sa to make the save. Sa later thwarted Lamela at his near post following a corner routine and Kane struck the bar, although the off-side flag meant the latter chance wouldn't have counted. Olympiacos had lost much of their attacking threat when Valbuena was substituted and with neither side able to fashion another breakthrough, it ended 2-2.

Key moment

The door opened to invite Olympiacos' comeback just before half-time as we were made to regret not seeing out the first period with a two-goal lead for the second time in three games. The clock showed 44 minutes when Valbuena produced a great turn and threaded a ball through for Podence to speed onto and produce an emphatic finish across Lloris, halving our advantage.

That moment proved important as the Greek side were quickly able to turn 2-1 into 2-2 upon the resumption, making it a frustrating evening for us in southern Europe.

Mauricio's view

Asked for his thoughts after the game, manager Mauricio told us: "My thoughts are that we’re optimistic - one point at the end.

"We didn’t start well but we scored the penalty and the second goal from Lucas but at the end, we didn’t manage it and it wasn’t a great end to the first half.

"In the second half we improved but conceded another soft goal. We are conceding a lot of chances and conceding goals from the beginning of the season. We need to focus on being more aggressive like we were against Palace."

Opening goalscorer Kane added: "When you go 2-0 up, you expect to go on and win the game. Away from home, it’s always so difficult in the Champions League, so to put ourselves in that position was fantastic.

"To concede the goal just before half-time – we did that before at Arsenal – changes the momentum of the game, gives their fans something to cheer about and puts them on the front foot. That’s the most disappointing thing. They did that, got the second goal and after that we created chances that we could have done better with but, overall, we’re disappointed leaving here tonight."

Reaction on Spurs TV

Match data

Goals: Olympiacos - Podence 44, Valbuena 54 (pen); Spurs - Kane 26 (pen), Lucas 30.

Yellow cards: Olympiacos - Guilherme 14; Spurs - Winks 88.

Referee: Gianluca Rocchi (ITA).

Venue: Karaiskakis Stadium, Piraeus.

Weather: Clear sky, warm, 24 degrees.

Attendance: 31,001.