In what is being described as one of the most bizarre and brutal nights in recent Champions League history, Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky was substituted just 17 minutes into the first leg of their last-16 tie against Atletico Madrid after a catastrophic start.
The 22-year-old Czech goalkeeper, who joined Spurs from Slavia Prague in January 2025, endured a quarter of an hour to forget at the Metropolitano Stadium.
His night began to unravel in the 6th minute when a slip allowed Marcos Llorente to open the scoring.
By the 15th minute, the situation had turned into a complete meltdown; after conceding a second to Antoine Griezmann, Kinsky gifted the ball directly to Julian Alvarez for Atletico’s third goal.
Interim boss Igor Tudor made the ruthless decision to replace Kinsky with Guglielmo Vicario immediately after the third goal.
The decision left pundits and fans stunned.
BBC Sport’s chief football writer Phil McNulty, who was at the match, said: "I've watched a lot of football but not sure I've ever witnessed anything quite like this.
Not just those mistakes, but Igor Tudor's decision to take Antonin Kinsky off. What a horrible night for the young keeper."
The situation was made even more bizarre as Vicario, who was dropped for the match due to recent poor form, also conceded just five minutes after coming on.
Atletico stormed into a 4-0 lead by the 22nd minute. Although Spurs managed to pull two goals back via Pedro Porro, they eventually lost 5-2, leaving them with a mountain to climb in the second leg on March 18.
Former Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson, at the game for BBC Radio 5 Live, heavily criticized Tudor’s decision.
"It will be soul-destroying for Kinsky.
I would not be surprised if he was in tears.
It is selfish from the manager—he knows he will not be here for long. It is clearly for self-preservation."
Support did pour in for the young keeper from the footballing world.
Former Spain and Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea posted on X: "No-one who hasn't been a goalkeeper can understand how difficult it is to play in this position.
Keep your head up and you will go again."
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