Tottenham player ratings from RB Leipzig defeat as Dele Alli has night to forget

Tottenham will again have to do it the hard way in the Champions League after they suffered a 1-0 home defeat in the first leg of their last-16 tie with RB Leipzig.

Spurs' run to the final last season was full of great escapes and comeback wins and they will need another after Timo Werner's second-half penalty gave the Bundesliga side a deserved win in their first ever knockout game in this competition.

It also sees 32-year-old Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann, who has been dubbed 'Baby Mourinho' and is a rising star of European football, gain the edge over the man he has been named after.

But Spurs boss Jose Mourinho will claim this was not a fair fight as he was without two of his best attacking players, with the loss Son Heung-min on the eve of the match adding to that of Harry Kane.

The defeat would have been much worse had Hugo Lloris not produced a number of vital saves to keep Leipzig at bay, while Spurs struggled for clear opportunities at the other end.

Here are John Cross' Tottenham player ratings from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium...

Tottenham Hotspur's Lucas Moura looks dejected after RB Leipzig's Timo Werner scores their first goal (REUTERS)

Tottenham

Lloris 8

Never, ever write this guy off. Top keeper with top saves.

Aurier 6

Had his hands full with the pacy Werner, did OK and got forward.

Alderweireld 7

Powerful in the air, even if Leipzig’s movement caused major problems.

D Sanchez 6

Terrific early block gave him confidence, battled hard throughout.

RB Leipzig's Timo Werner sees his shot saved by Tottenham Hotspur's Hugo Lloris (REUTERS)

Davies 5

Booked. Back in favour, but conceded a penalty. Struggled.

Winks 6

Showed the other side of his game: battling qualities to match his class.

Gedson 5

Struggled to get into the game or make an impact. Passed him by.

Lo Celso 8

Booked. Tottenham ’s best outfield player. Eriksen long forgotten

Alli 5

Not his night. Did not influence the game and was subbed early.

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Dele Alli reacts after being substituted (AFP via Getty Images)

Bergwijn 5

Had one shot brilliantly saved, but did not make an impact.

Lucas 6

Worked hard through the middle but centre forward is not his game.

Substitutes

Ndombele, for Alli, 64 mins, 6

Lamela, for Gedson, 64 mins, 7

RB Leipzig

Gulácsi 7; Klostermann 6, Ampadu 6, Halstenberg 7; Mukiele 7, Laimer 7, Sabitzer 7, Angelino 7, Nkunku 6 (Haidara, 74 mins), Werner 8, Schick 7.

Man of the match: Werner

Attendance: 60,095