Champions League: Leipzig cruise past Spurs into quarters

Emil Forsberg of RB Leipzig (2nd L) scores a goal during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg match between RB Leipzig and Tottenham Hotspur at Red Bull Arena in Leipzig, Germany, March 10, 2020. /VCG

Tottenham crashed out of the Champions League as RB Leipzig cruised to a 3-0 win on Tuesday to progress to the quarter-finals for the first time 4-0 on aggregate.

Leipzig captain Marcel Sabitzer struck twice in the first 21 minutes to put the tie to bed before substitute Emil Forsberg added the third late on with his first touch.

Unlike many fixtures across Europe this week, there were no restrictions on supporters attending due to the spread of coronavirus.

Spurs traveled to eastern Germany shorn of striking options without the injured Harry Kane, Son Heung-min and Steven Bergwijn.

However, it was at the other end that they buckled inside the opening quarter of the game as two errors from Hugo Lloris in goal turned a tough task into an impossible one.

Marcel Sabitzer of RB Leipzig (2nd R) scores his team's first goal past goalkeeper Hugo Lloris of Tottenham Hotspur during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg match between the two teams at Red Bull Arena in Leipzig, Germany, March 10, 2020. /VCG

Mourinho left club record signing Tanguy Ndombele on the bench after publicly criticizing the French midfielder's desire in Saturday's 1-1 draw at Burnley, but the switch to a 3-4-3 formation did little to prevent Spurs' winless streak in all competitions stretching to six games.

Leipzig took just 10 minutes to open the scoring when Lloris did not get a strong enough right hand to stop Sabitzer's strike from outside the box finding the bottom corner.

Timo Werner then fired home from close range only to be denied by the offside flag as Leipzig opened up the Tottenham defense at will.

Tottenham Hotspur's Lucas Moura (L) and manager Jose Mourinho after losing the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg match between RB Leipzig and Tottenham Hotspur at Red Bull Arena in Leipzig, Germany, March 10, 2020. /VCG

Spurs produced a remarkable fightback from 3-0 down on aggregate away at Ajax in last season's semi-finals to make the final for the first time in the club's history thanks to Lucas Moura's hat-trick.

But in keeping with their collapse since that night in Amsterdam last May, Mourinho's men lacked the quality and belief needed to reproduce that thrilling fightback.

Moura was again the one source of inspiration as he teed up Dele Alli for Spurs' best chance of the night, but the England midfielder's mishit effort was easily saved by Gulasci.

Forsberg was more clinical just 32 seconds after replacing Sabitzer to fire into the far corner three minutes from time.

Tottenham's season now hinges on refining their form in the Premier League if they are not to miss out on the Champions League for the first time in five years.

Elsewhere, Atalanta's fairytale Champions League run continued inside an empty stadium as Josip Ilicic scored four times in a 4-3 win over Valencia that sent his team into the quarter-finals 8-4 on aggregate.

(With input from AFP)