Xavi Simons has gone from battling for form at Tottenham to breaking a Champions League record against Copenhagen.
Xavi Simons may have struggled to find his rhythm at Tottenham Hotspur so far, but on Tuesday night he delivered his most impressive display in a Spurs shirt.
After two disappointing away draws in the Champions League, Spurs finally got back on track with a dominant win, and Simons was among the standout performers against Copenhagen, setting up the opening goal with a brilliant assist.
His evening was cut short just after the hour mark when he was replaced by Joao Palhinha, a tactical change following Brennan Johnson’s red card.
Simons shines as Tottenham creator vs Copenhagen
Even though he didn’t see out the full 90 minutes, the 22-year-old showcased his creativity throughout the match.
No player has created more big chances in a single Champions League fixture this season than Xavi Simons did against FC Copenhagen (3).
His stats on the night:
20 passes into the final third
5 duels contested
4 chances created
3 duels won
3 big chances created
2 touches in the opposition box
2 tackles
Squawka highlighted that Simons produced more big chances in one UCL game than any other player this season, underlining the Dutchman’s attacking influence. Alongside his creativity, he also put in the work defensively, winning most of his duels and putting in key tackles.
Now Simons needs consistency
There was a feeling earlier in the season that Simons had already turned a corner – particularly after his strong display in the 2-1 win over Leeds United, where he excelled as an attacking midfielder.
But his form dipped again, and he was even taken off early against Chelsea despite starting on the bench.
If Simons wants to truly establish himself at Spurs, this can’t be a one-off. He needs to back this up with more of the same – consistent, influential performances.
