Tottenham Hotspur secured a commanding 2-0 first-leg advantage in their UEFA Champions League knockout tie against Borussia Dortmund on January 21, 2026. The victory at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was built on a solid defensive foundation and clinical finishing in the second half. The first half was a cagey affair, with both teams cautious of making a mistake in such a high-stakes match. Tottenham broke the deadlock around the hour mark, capitalizing on a defensive error from the German side to take a crucial lead. They doubled their advantage ten minutes later with a well-worked team goal, giving them a comfortable cushion to take to Germany. The clean sheet was as important as the goals for Ange Postecoglou's side, who nullified Dortmund's attacking threats throughout the match. This result puts Spurs in a strong position to qualify for the quarter-finals, though they will be wary of Dortmund's threat at the Signal Iduna Park. Postecoglou praised his team's maturity, while the Dortmund manager insisted his team could overturn the deficit at home. Tottenham's starting XI featured a strong defensive core that successfully contained Dortmund's dangerous wingers.