Randal Kolo Muani and Dominic Solanke’s second-half strikes sent Tottenham to the Champions League last 16 with a convincing victory over eliminated Eintracht Frankfurt at the Deutsche Bank Park.
Forward Kolo Muani, who played for Frankfurt during the 2022/23 season, poked troubled Spurs ahead in the 47th minute from Cristian Romero’s header to put Spurs on their way to a third successive win in the league phase.
Kolo Muani gives Spurs the lead against his former club! 👏
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/fO9tojrmRu
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 28, 2026
Solanke, whose goal at Frankfurt last season sent Tottenham to the Europa League semi-finals, raced clear after former Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Mahmoud Dahoud misjudged a header, inadvertently sending the striker through on goal to find the far corner of the net with a low finish.
Dominic Solanke doubles the lead for Spurs! 🔥
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/Ebf7cqpUpK
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 28, 2026
Xavi Simons had a close-range strike ruled out for Spurs inside the opening three minutes, but under-pressure manager Thomas Frank will be able to reflect on a league-phase campaign that has been serene compared with his new club’s league form, languishing in 14th after a run of one win in eight top-flight matches.
Frankfurt vs Tottenham: Champions League joy for Spurs
While many observers believe Frank’s days as manager are numbered – particularly after a 2-2 draw at relegation-threatened Burnley on Saturday – the Dane’s first Champions League experience as a manager hit another high point against underwhelming opposition.
Wilson Odobert fired a long-range shot against a post during the first half and Simons almost capitalised when Kaua Santos’ misplaced pass put the new signing in on goal, only for the goalkeeper to redeem himself with an excellent save.
Tottenham are eight points above the relegation zone before hosting Manchester City on Sunday (16:30 GMT).
Frankfurt team vs Spurs
Frankfurt starting XI: Kaua Santos, Aurele Amenda, Robin Koch, Arthur Theate, Aurelio Buta, Oscar Hojlund, Ellyes Skhiri, Hugo Larsson, Nathaniel Brown, Mario Gotze, Ansgar Knauff
Frankfurt substitutes: Jens Grahl, Fares Chaïbi, Rasmus Kristensen, Mahmoud Dahoud, Jean-Mattéo Bahoya, Ritsu Doan, Timothy Chandler, Michael Zetterer, Nnamdi Collins, Fousseny Doumbia, Marvin Dills, Alexander Staff
Tottenham team vs Eintracht Frankfurt
Tottenham boss Thomas Frank made five changes from the side that needed a late leveller to claim a 2-2 draw at Burnley the previous Saturday, bringing in Destiny Udogie, Archie Gray, Pape Matar Sarr, Joao Palhinha and Randal Kolo Muani come into the side.
Kolo Muani’s place in the starting XI against his former club was something of a surprise amid links with a move back to Juventus.
Micky van de Ven, Pedro Porro, Yves Bissouma, Conor Gallagher and Dominic Solanke dropped out, with the latter the only senior outfield player on a bench dominated by young players.
Tottenham starting XI: Guglielmo Vicario, Djed Spence, Cristian Romer, Kevin Danso, Destiny Udogie, Wilson Odobert, Joao Palhinha, Pape Matar Sarr, Archie Gray, Xavi Simons, Randal Kolo Muani
Spurs substitutes: Antonin Kinsky, Dominic Solanke, Brandon Austin, Dane Scarlett, Callum Olusesi, Rio Kyerematen, Malachi Hardy, Jun’ai Byfield, James Rowswell, Tye Hall
Eintracht Frankfurt vs Tottenham stats
- Eintracht Frankfurt have won just one of their seven Champions League matches
- Frankfurt sit 33rd in the 36-team league-phase table
- Tottenham have won three of their last four Champions League fixtures
- Spurs have failed to win any of their three away matches in the competition
- Eintracht Frankfurt have conceded at least three goals in five of their last six matches
When is the Champions League knockout phase?
Knockout phase play-offs: February 17/18 & 24/25 2026
Round of 16: March 10/11 & 17/18 2026
Quarter-finals: April 7/8 & 14/15 2026
Semi-finals: April 28/29 and May 5/6 2026
Final: May 30 2026 (Budapest)
When are the Champions League draws?
Knockout phase play-offs: January 30 2026
Round of 16, quarter-final, semi-final and final: February 27 2026
Champions League 2025/26 format
In a change from the previous group stage format conducted until 2023/24, each team now plays eight matches in the league phase, all against different opponents.
Four of those matches will be at home and four away, with the opponents determined according to four seeding pots split by rankings.
Teams will play two opponents from each of those pots – one against a team from each pot at home and one away. The results decide the overall standings in one league.
The top eight sides in the table qualify automatically for the round of 16. The teams finishing in ninth to 24th will compete in a two-legged knockout phase play-off to reach the last 16.
Teams finishing 25th or lower are out of Europe for the season.
English teams in the Champions League: Why are there six clubs?
Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea and Newcastle all qualified as the top five teams in the Premier League.
There were five places for English teams because extra positions are awarded based on Uefa’s co-efficient rankings, which are based on the overall performances of nations across European competition over a season.
Spurs qualified as Europa League champions, despite losing 22 and winning only 11 of their 2024/25 league games.
When is the Champions League final?
The final will take place on May 30 2026 at the The Puskas Arena in Budapest, which opened in 2019 and is home to Hungary’s national team.
The arena hosted a dramatic 2022/23 Europa League final, when Sevilla beat Roma on penalties following a 1-1 draw after extra time.
Tottenham Champions League squad 2025/26
Tottenham’s List A Champions League squad has been registered until the round of 16 in February 2026, when clubs can add a maximum of three new players within the existing limit of 25.
Goalkeepers: Guglielmo Vicario, Antonin Kinsky, Brandon Austin
Defenders: Kevin Danso, Destiny Udogie, Archie Gray, Cristian Romero, Pedro Porro, Djed Spence, Ben Davies, Micky van de Ven
Midfielders: Joao Palhinha, Xavi Simons, Lucas Bergvall, Wilson Odobert, Pape Matar Sarr, Rodrigo Bentancur
Forwards: Richarlison, Dominic Solanke, Mohammed Kudus, Brennan Johnson, Randal Kolo Muani
List B submissions, comprised of players born after January 1, 2004 who have been eligible to play for the club for an uninterrupted period of two years since their 15th birthday, can also be made until midnight before each match.
