Borussia Dortmund have left themselves facing an uphill battle to qualify for the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League after suffering a 3-0 away defeat at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur in the first leg of their last-16 tie in London.

Boris Rupert reporting from London

BVB had the marginally better chances in an even opening half and gave hardly anything away, only to concede 68 seconds into the second period when Son volleyed home. The visitors created few moments of danger thereafter and were dealt a blow when Vertonghen (83) and Llorente (86) struck in the closing stages to make it 3-0.

The scenario: 
Winning Group A handed BVB a first leg away from home against Group B runners-up Tottenham Hotspur, who had never previously won a UEFA Champions League home game in the knockout stages (previous record: one draw, two defeats).

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Personnel matters: 
Zagadou, who was back after a 10-week spell on the sidelines, replaced the ill Weigl, while Piszczek (foot), Alcácer (shoulder), Reus (torn muscle fibre) and Akanji (hip) missed out through injury. There were four changes to the team that drew 3-3 with Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga on Saturday, with Toprak, Zagadou, Delaney and Pulisic replacing Piszczek, Weigl, Philipp and Guerreiro.

Tactics:   
BVB lined up in a 4-3-3 formation for the first time since their goalless draw at Hannover on 31 August 2018, with Witsel in the central defensive midfield role flanked by Dahoud and Delaney. Sancho, Götze (centre) and Pulisic formed the attacking trio, which tried to attack with pace down the flanks. Toprak and Zagadou, who had never played alongside each other at centre-back before, were selected at the heart of defence, while Diallo was given the nod at left-back role due to his strength and aerial prowess. Tottenham played in a 3-5-2 system with Eriksen behind Son and Moura. Vertonghen and Aurier occupied the wing-back berths and dropped back to expand the defence to a back five when required.

The match & analysis:
The Black & Yellows showed great focus and tactical discipline when their hosts had the ball and barely gave them a sniff in the first half. A volley from Moura that sailed narrowly wide (7) and a run and cross from Son on the left wing that Bürki cleared with an outstretched leg (36) were the only moments the Dortmund goal came under threat.

Dortmund largely had the game under control and first posed a danger in the 15th minute when Götze and Pulisic forced Foyth into giving the ball away on the edge of the penalty area, but the American's subsequent shot from a narrow angle was saved by Lloris. The French gloveman just about dealt with Delaney's effort from distance in the 35th minute, but made a strong save to deny Zagadou's towering header from a Sancho cross on the stroke of half-time (45).

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The contingent of almost 5,000 travelling fans could be satisfied with the first-half display from their team, who kept their shape excellently. But they were punished more or less immediately after the restart when Hakimi lost the ball on the right flank and Vertonghen's cross sailed over Zagadou towards Son, who peeled off his marker and stretched out a leg to volley an unstoppable shot past Bürki and into the top corner (47).

Tottenham had a strong spell as the hour-mark approached, playing with power and tempo. That almost led to a second but Zagadou cleared as Son readied to shoot (61). But while the Black & Yellows rode that spell of pressure, they did not manage to make a decisive impact going forward.

Goals in the 83rd and 86th minutes tough to take

Conceding another two goals in the closing stages was a bitter pill to swallow for BVB. Delaney threw himself into the path of Moura's shot at the last second on the 75-minute mark, but the advantage was doubled eight minutes later when Spurs won the ball back in midfield, Aurier crossed into the box from the right flank and Vertonghen volleyed home. A third was added four minutes from time when substitute Llorente headed into the top corner (86).

Watch all the goals and highlights at a click

Outlook: 
The return leg will take place in Dortmund at 21:00 CET on Tuesday 5 March. There will be three Bundesliga matches for BVB in the intervening weeks, with the first of those an away trip to 1. FC Nuremberg next Monday.

Teams & goals