However, a battling performance against Liverpool at the weekend showed signs that Igor Tudor was finally getting a tune out of his squad after an awful start, which saw him lose all four of his first four games in charge, with the team conceding 14 goals.
Superb home form in the UCL
Despite their awful Premier League form, the Lilywhites had won all four of their Champions League games played at home in 2025/26, scoring 10 goals and conceding none.
Tudor had made three changes to the starting XI that faced Atleti a week ago, with Guglielmo Vicario, Radu Dragusin and Xavi Simons replacing Richarlison (suspended), Kevin Danso and Antonin Kinsky.
With Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven shoring up central defence, there was at least a glimmer of hope that the North Londoners might be able to turn things around if they could score early.
Though the Spaniards settled much quicker, Spurs were well into their stride by the 20-minute mark, with Mathys Tel's three shots on target lifting the entire mood around the stadium.
Kolo Muani gives Tottenham hope
It was the 20-year-old Frenchman who was instrumental in Tottenham's opener too, providing a sublime assist for Randal Kolo Muani to head past Juan Musso. With a collective 66% possession in the quarter hour leading up to the goal, the opener was no more than the hosts deserved.
Nahuel Molina's four tackles in the game, the most from any player at that point, and Musso's five saves before half-time were evidence of just how on top Tottenham were.
Tel, again, could've doubled the lead just a few minutes later, but shot straight at Musso when well placed.
He'd also bring the best out of the Atleti keeper again before the break, though the visitors hit back with a flurry of late first-half chances, which cooled the mood inside the ground.
Xavi Simons' best game for a while saw him contest 14 one-on-ones, nine of which he won, and his four successful dribbles from six attempted were always going to see him have a say in how the game ended.
Alvarez kills the mood
The Dutchman thought he should've had a free-kick just after half-time after being bundled to the floor, but the official allowed play to continue, and Atleti sucker-punched the hosts when Julian Alvarez was allowed time and space to score the equaliser, despite being surrounded by seven Spurs players.
An eighth goal in a single edition of the tournament for the Argentine was a new record for Alvarez, and the goal was one of three shots on target he'd have in the game, exactly half of all on-target shots Atleti managed in the 90+ minutes.
To Spurs' credit, they refused to buckle and just five minutes later, Simons buried a wonderful effort beyond Musso's despairing grasp.
Atleti's Achilles heel in this edition of the Champions League certainly appears to be the 15 minutes directly after half-time, given that it was a seventh goal conceded in that portion of a game; only Newcastle (eight) have conceded more between the 46th and 60th minutes.
Midfield dominance
With Pape Matar Sarr and Archie Gray dominating in midfield and spraying the ball around with ease (88.2% and 88.4% pass completion success, respectively), spaces were routinely opening up for the likes of Pedro Porro and others to try their luck.
By the hour mark, the hosts had already attempted 13 shots at goal, with 11 of them on target.
At the opposite end of the pitch, though Alvarez, Ademola Lookman and Marcos Llorente were all making inroads into the Tottenham box, Djed Spence in particular was holding firm.
Along with van de Ven and Romero, he completed 100% of his tackles, and all three made two important interceptions each on the night.
Late drama and a first win of the Tudor era
11 total duels attempted by Spence were as many as van de Ven and Romero combined, and the trio also won possession back on 11 separate occasions between them.
12 fouls committed by the entire Tottenham XI with 20 minutes still to play ordinarily wouldn't have won any plaudits, but it was a sign of the renewed grit and determination throughout the team.
However, just as it appeared that the North Londoners were in the ascendancy, their bubble was burst again with a simple headed finish from a corner by David Hancko.
That killed off any chance of an unlikely comeback and was one of nine unanswered attempts from the visitors in the second half.
Right at the death, Tottenham won a penalty which Simons confidently converted, and the win, whilst an empty one in many respects, brought the Spurs faithful back onside, and they rose as one to acknowledge the effort from their team.
Whether this is the start of the North Londoners turning a corner under Tudor, only time will tell....
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