Leipzig thrashes Tottenham to enter quarter-finals

Sabitzer fired the lively German side in front with a low shot from about 20 metres after 10 minutes. The host never looked back, pinning the visitor, which was without injured strikers Harry Kane and Son Heung-min, in its own half. Leipzig’s captain was then given far too much space in the 21st minute to head home Angelino’s cross at the near post.

Emil Forsberg completed the victory with a third goal from inside the box in the 87th minute as Leipzig, which only got promoted to the Bundesliga in 2016, reached its first quarter-final in Europe’s premier club competition. “We played better when compared to our recent Bundesliga matches,” Leipzig manager Julian Nagelsmann told reporters.

Leipzig had drawn its last two domestic league matches. “The fans are moved. This is a very big deal for the club. We are now looking forward to the (quarter-final) draw. It is a special moment.” Leipzig was founded by Red Bull in 2009 by acquiring a fifth division licence and started in the amateur divisions.

Injury-ravaged Tottenham, which was also missing winger Steven Bergwijn and full-back Ben Davies, struggled to keep up with Leipzig’s pace and was constantly exposed at the back while posing no threat up front. Leipzig pounced on almost every sloppy pass and inaccurate clearance and could have added several more goals in a dominant first half.

Spurs coach Jose Mourinho had warned the absence of “box sharks” Kane and Son would make it more difficult for his side to score and the Portuguese’s prediction proved accurate. His team had to wait until the 43rd minute for its first corner and managed to carve out only half a chance in the second period with a Dele Alli effort in the 75th minute.

Josip Ilicic scored four goals in a stunning individual display to lead Atalanta to a 4-3 Champions League last-16 second leg win over Valencia, a result that completed an 8-4 aggregate victory, at an empty Mestalla in Valencia on Tuesday.

Playing in the Champions League for the first time, Atalanta’s European adventure continued in emphatic fashion as Ilicic netted twice in each half to guide his side comfortably into the quarter-finals. Valencia defender Mouctar Diakhaby conceded two penalties in the first half, both converted by Ilicic, either side of Kevin Gameiro’s equaliser.

Gameiro headed home a second and Ferran Torres put Valencia ahead on the night but Ilicic completed his hat-trick and then curled in a sumptuous fourth.