Tottenham Hotspur return to Champions League duty on Tuesday aiming to secure back-to-back victories in all competitions after finally ending their domestic slump at the weekend.
The 2-0 win over Brentford lifted a cloud that was hanging over the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and arrived as a necessary response to weeks of uncertainty.
Manager Thomas Frank had been under pressure to show that his team could control games at home, and Saturday offered the first signs of stability.
Spurs took an early lead and managed the contest with a composure that had been missing for most of the season.
That performance has given them a platform rather than a conclusion, and Tuesday’s match carries the chance to convert short-term relief into momentum.
Tottenham’s European campaign has been inconsistent. A heavy defeat against Paris Saint-Germain on matchday five ended their unbeaten start and exposed familiar flaws in defending transitions.
Spurs still sit inside the seeded positions in the league-phase table, but they have not been totally convincing this term.
The return to London should help, as Spurs are unbeaten at home in the Champions League this season and have rarely been unsettled on European nights.
The stadium has not felt easy for them in domestic competition, but it has been a more comfortable environment on continental occasions.
Frank will hope that rhythm continues, especially after his side showed greater coordination in and out of possession against Brentford.
Slavia Prague have not won in this season’s Champions League, but Tottenham will not treat them as an underdog, given they have only been beaten by Arsenal and Inter Milan.
Their approach has been disciplined and reactive, and they have used compact defensive blocks to stay competitive for long stretches.
Their lack of goals has limited them, but their structure has prevented matches from becoming chaotic.
They have carried strong domestic form into Europe, but have not been able to convert that stability into results.
Tottenham will expect to dominate possession and create chances, yet they understand that rushed attacks and a lack of patience could play into Slavia’s hands.
Frank will lean on the attacking fluency that produced the weekend’s victory and the individual quality that turned pressure into goals.
Xavi Simons delivered his most effective performance since joining the club and looked comfortable linking attacking phases.
Richarlison, Randal Kolo Muani and Mohammed Kudus provided mobility and threat, and Spurs will expect that front line to stretch their disciplined opponents.
The expectation is for Tottenham to control the match, but Slavia’s habit of making games tight means that control alone may not be enough.
A second straight win would mark progress, and Tuesday is a test of whether that step is ready to be taken rather than merely hoped for.
