UCL: Spurs Knocked Out By RB Leipzig, Atalanta Ease Past Valencia Into Q/Finals

Tottenham Hotspur have been knocked out of the Champions League last 16 by German side RB Leipzig on Tuesday.

Leipzig led 1-0 from the first leg in London and Marcel Sabitzer’s double at the Red Bull Arena put Julian Nagelsmann’s side in control.

Substitute Emil Forsberg scored with his first touch to give Leipzig – who were only formed 10 years ago – a 4-0 aggregate win.

Injury-ravaged Spurs were completely outclassed and have now not won in six games in all competitions.

They may likely not be back in this tournament at all next season as they currently sit seven points behind the top four in the Premier League.

Elsewhere, Atalanta eased into the Champions League quarter-finals as Josip Ilicic hit four goals against Valencia, in the first match of the competition to be played behind closed doors because of the coronavirus outbreak.

Atalanta had a commanding 4-1 lead from the first leg of their last-16 tie and quickly added to their advantage inside a spooky Mestalla Stadium.

Slovenia forward Ilicic converted a third-minute penalty for the Serie A side after he had been fouled by Valencia defender Mouctar Diakhaby to put Atalanta ahead.

Kevin Gameiro capitalised on a defensive mix-up to tap in an equaliser for the hosts, but Diakhaby’s handball allowed Ilicic to score his second spot-kick of the evening to put the visitors 6-2 up on aggregate.

Gameiro’s second, this time from a close-range header, levelled the score on the night before Ferran Torres’ lobbed effort put the La Liga side in front.

However, Ilicic’s rasping left-foot drive from 20 yards restored Atalanta’s three-goal aggregate lead as he became the first Slovenian player to score a Champions League hat-trick.

Ilicic is also the oldest player to score an away Champions League hat-trick – aged 32 years and 41 days

The Slovenian’s fourth rounded off an 8-4 aggregate win for Gian Piero Gasperini’s side, who have now scored 28 goals in their last seven games and become the competition’s first debutants to reach the last eight since Leicester City in 2016-17.