Tottenham supporters barely had time to digest Saturday’s frustrations before Micky van de Ven provided the perfect remedy.
Just three days after refusing to applaud fans and airing complaints about pre-match boos, the centre-half turned hero against Copenhagen with a breathtaking solo effort.
Starting from the edge of his own penalty area, Van de Ven powered through the Danish defense, weaving past opponents before unleashing a thunderous shot into the net.
His celebration, cupping an ear as he wheeled away, left no doubt he was sending a message.
The goal marked his sixth of the season and helped Spurs secure a commanding 4-0 win, despite being down to 10 men after Brennan Johnson’s early red card.
Tottenham Overcome Adversity With Clinical Finishing
The match saw Spurs adapt quickly to the setback.
Joao Palhinha and Wilson Odobert added to the tally, capitalizing on a Copenhagen side that struggled to cope with Tottenham’s pace and creativity.
The Danish champions, while bringing a lively away support, were far from intimidating, offering a boost to Spurs boss Thomas Frank, who had faced intense scrutiny over the team’s recent lack of flair.
After a disheartening home defeat to Chelsea, questions about Tottenham’s attacking style and creativity had grown louder.
The tension was compounded by a sub-capacity crowd and the lingering controversy over Van de Ven and Djed Spence’s refusal to acknowledge fans.
Early Lead and European Form Provide Confidence
Johnson opened the scoring in the 19th minute, racing clear of goalkeeper Dominik Kotarski to put Spurs ahead.
Tottenham’s domestic form this year has been poor, with just three Premier League wins in 2025, but their European home record remains impressive.
Excluding a COVID-related forfeit against Rennes, Spurs had gone unbeaten in 21 European home games, a run dating back to a 2020 Champions League defeat by Leipzig.
Although the quality of opposition has varied, Copenhagen’s mistakes in possession made life easier for Frank’s men, allowing them to create multiple chances and regain confidence in their attacking rhythm.
Simons and Kolo Muani Bring Flair but Miss Chances
Dutch playmaker Xavi Simons shone in the early stages, orchestrating attacks and creating chances for Randal Kolo Muani and the wingers.
Kolo Muani, starting ahead of an injured Dominic Solanke, squandered two clear opportunities before redeeming himself by setting up Odobert for Tottenham’s second.
Simons, visibly frustrated after being substituted to bolster the midfield post-red card, reflected the team’s mixed emotions in the first half.
Van de Ven and Palhinha Seal the Win
Even with 10 men, Spurs continued to dominate.
Van de Ven’s solo strike and Palhinha’s composed finish extended the lead, demonstrating the team’s ability to attack fluently despite numerical disadvantage.
Richarlison came on late, hitting the bar, missing a penalty, and testing Copenhagen’s resilience.
Tottenham, who had registered a meager expected goals (xG) of 0.05 against Chelsea, suddenly looked capable of scoring at will.
Questions Remain About Tottenham’s Next Test
While the win was emphatic, doubts linger about the quality of Copenhagen as an opponent.
Can Tottenham replicate this fluency against elite competition? The true test looms with three challenging fixtures ahead, against Manchester United, Arsenal, and Paris Saint-Germain.
For now, though, Van de Ven’s heroics and the team’s resilience provided a welcome boost to Spurs’ European campaign.