Richarlison double helps Spurs past Marseille

Richarlison’s first goals for Tottenham broke Marseille’s stubborn resistance as Antonio Conte’s side made a winning return to the Champions League.

Spurs were struggling to make the breakthrough until Richarlison powered home a header from Ivan Perisic’s cross with 14 minutes left to open his account following his £60m summer move from Everton.

Richarlison added another with an even better header five minutes later, this time meeting Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s delivery at the far post to beat Marseille goalkeeper Pau Lopez and seal the points for Spurs.

Richarlison makes his mark

Richarlison joined Spurs in order to sample the Champions League stage after making a huge contribution as Everton made a late escape from relegation last season.

The Brazilian was a hero at Goodison Park and – unusually for a big-money transfer – went with almost unanimous good wishes from supporters who had taken him to their hearts.

The 25-year-old was a powerful addition to the potent Spurs front line that already boasted England captain Harry Kane, Son and the talented Dejan Kulusevski – the sort of signing Conte craved in his hunt for major prizes.

He has had to bide his time but Richarlison’s early contributions, including his contentious ball juggling in the recent win over Nottingham Forest, have already won him favour among Spurs fans.

And he cemented that status here with two vital goals that ensured Spurs came through a night of hard work with a crucial victory.

Richarlison’s theatrics may occasionally irritate, but there is no doubting his quality and the two headers that made the difference here demonstrated exactly what he brings to Spurs.

Stubborn Spurs dig deep

Spurs may not have been pleasing on the eye at times this season but Conte has injected steel into the side that means they have the ability to get the job done even when they are not at their best.

It was the same here as they lacked rhythm and momentum for long periods, Marseille often the more composed side in possession until the sending-off of Mbemba.

He had to go and it handed the initiative to Spurs, who stuck to their task and ultimately found a match-winner in Richarlison.

Conte celebrated wildly on the touchline, the manner of victory seemingly giving him just as much pleasure as any earned by free-flowing football.

Spurs are a different beast under the fiercely driven Italian and here, even when not touching the heights, they proved it again.

Player of the match

RicharlisonRicharlison

Marseille

1. Squad number30Player nameNuno Tavares

2. Squad number3Player nameBailly

3. Squad number6Player nameGuendouzi

4. Squad number7Player nameClauss

5. Squad number8Player nameGerson

6. Squad number27Player nameVeretout

7. Squad number11Player nameSuárez

8. Squad number21Player nameRongier

9. Squad number4Player nameGigot

10. Squad number16Player namePau López

11. Squad number77Player nameHarit

12. Squad number23Player nameKolasinac

13. Squad number5Player nameBalerdi

14. Squad number17Player nameÜnder

15. Squad number99Player nameMbemba

16. Squad number22Player nameGueye