Dominic Solanke scored on his first start of the season as Tottenham secured a much-needed 2-0 victory over 10-man Borussia Dortmund, easing the pressure on manager Thomas Frank. The Danish coach had faced mounting scrutiny after Saturday's home defeat to West Ham, which left Spurs with eight losses in 14 matches, and supporters chanted that he would be "sacked in the morning". Despite talks over his future, Frank remained in charge for the Champions League clash and saw his side deliver.
Cristian Romero put Tottenham ahead in the 14th minute, sweeping home after Wilson Odobert's initial volley was cut back. Odobert was again involved in the second goal before half-time, crossing for Solanke, whose fortuitous effort rebounded off his standing leg and rolled in. Dortmund's task grew harder when Daniel Svensson was sent off after 26 minutes for a high challenge on Odobert, following a VAR review.
Despite the dismissal, Dortmund rallied after the break, with substitute Julian Ryerson curling a free-kick wide. Tottenham, however, managed the game effectively, though they suffered another injury when Lucas Bergvall limped off, prompting the introduction of 17-year-old Jun'ai Byfield for his professional debut. Solanke was also withdrawn shortly after, but the hosts held firm.
The win was Tottenham's first of 2026 and extended their unbeaten home run in Europe to 24 matches. Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, who had earlier been fortunate to escape an error, tipped over Nico Schlotterbeck's stoppage-time header to preserve the clean sheet. With 13 players unavailable, the result was all the more impressive and leaves Spurs well placed for a top-eight finish in the Champions League group stage.
