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The underlying numbers from Xavi Simons’ display against Atletico Madrid suggest the midfielder is hitting form at just the right time for Tottenham, who are in the midst of a relegation scrap.
Tottenham Hotspur fell short on Wednesday night in their attempt to pull back the three-goal deficit they suffered in the first leg of their round of 16 tie with Atletico Madrid.
Spurs were victorious yesterday, beating Diego Simeone’s men 3-2, but that was not enough to secure a place in the quarter-final against Barcelona.
Attention will now turn to the Premier League for Tottenham for the remainder of the season following their elimination from all cup competitions.
Tottenham star Xavi Simons shines despite Atletico Madrid exit
While crashing out of the Champions League will sting, Spurs can draw some comfort from the fight their players showed on the night.
It was one of their better displays this season, and right at the heart of it was summer signing Xavi Simons.
The Dutchman was impressive last night, grabbing a brace and constantly looking to make things happen as Tottenham chased the game. It was one of his best performances in a Spurs shirt, and the underlying numbers back that up.
According to FotMob, no player on the pitch was rated higher than Simons on Wednesday, even ahead of Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez, who registered a goal and an assist.
The Tottenham number seven was immense on the night, creating chances, taking shots and helping out in defence. The underlying numbers prove that he is ready for what is set to be a relegation scrap for the rest of the season.
| Minutes played | 90 |
| Goals | 2 |
| Expected goals (xG) | 0.95 |
| Expected goals on target (xGOT) | 1.22 |
| Touches | 77 |
| Touches in opposition box | 3 |
| Accurate passes | 41/46 (89%) |
| Chances created | 5 |
| Big chances created | 1 |
| Passes into final third | 5 |
| Accurate long balls | 3/4 (75%) |
| Successful dribbles | 4/6 (67%) |
| Shots on target | 2 |
| Shot accuracy | 2/2 (100%) |
| Penalties won | 1 |
| Dispossessed | 3 |
| Tackles | 2 |
| Blocks | 1 |
| Clearances | 1 |
| Interceptions | 1 |
| Recoveries | 9 |
| Ground duels won | 8/13 (62%) |
| Aerial duels won | 1/1 (100%) |
Spurs need Xavi Simons to deliver in Premier League run-in
Seeing Simons produce such displays is not entirely surprising, especially in the Champions League, where he has often looked sharp for Tottenham.
However, it is in the Premier League where the 22-year-old has struggled at times, with the physical nature of English football something the Dutchman is still adapting to.
The quality is there, though, and the signs are positive. If Simons can handle the demands of English football, he will be one of the better signings in Spurs’ recent history.
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