Tottenham continues to struggle, opening the door to relegation

(Football result) - Tottenham Hotspur remains deep in the Premier League relegation zone after new manager Roberto De Zerbi began his tenure with a 0-1 defeat against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, the first win for the "Black Cats" against Spurs since April 2010.

The first clear chance for Spurs under De Zerbi came just after 5 minutes, but still resembled old problems. Randal Kolo Muani acted as a wall for Richarlison in the box, but the Brazilian striker's one-touch shot was too weak towards the far corner. After a not very positive start, Sunderland gradually controlled the game, with Granit Xhaka being the standout. The former Arsenal player created several notable chances, including a direct shot from a corner (Olimpico) forcing goalkeeper Antonín Kinský to push the ball over the bar.

The Czech goalkeeper showed a completely different image compared to his poor performance against Atlético Madrid a month ago. He made two crucial saves against Brian Brobbey from close range, as Spurs' defense repeatedly overlooked this striker after Xhaka's set-piece situations.

Nevertheless, Spurs were the team with more regret when entering halftime, as VAR denied a penalty after a situation where Omar Alderete and Luke O'Nien seemed to foul Muani in the box.

In the second half, Spurs continued to show better cohesion in attack, but still harbored risks from set-piece situations. They created a clear chance when Luke O'Nien had to intervene timely to prevent Richarlison from finishing near goal after a counterattack. By the 60th minute, the Brazilian striker missed another opportunity with a weak shot towards the far corner from a narrow angle.

The familiar scenario quickly occurred for Spurs as they paid the price almost immediately. Nordi Mukiele put Sunderland ahead after a bold move, with a shot from midfield hitting Micky van de Ven's foot and changing direction, leaving the goalkeeper helpless. The goal was somewhat lucky but enough to make a difference.

Nevertheless, Sunderland did not take it lightly. They actively protected their lead, while Destiny Udogie twice had to rescue Spurs, including a tackle that unbalanced Brobbey and a clearance right on the goal line in the 88th minute.

Despite having up to 11 minutes of added time, Spurs still could not find an equalizer. Pedro Porro had a notable chance but his shot was pushed over the bar in the 7th minute of added time. When the final whistle sounded, disappointment again enveloped the white-shirted team.

Overall, Spurs showed some positive signs in the first half, but the general feeling is they don't have much time left to improve and avoid the prospect of relegation for the first time in 49 years. The upcoming match against Brighton therefore carries survival significance, while Sunderland gained significant motivation in the race for European cup qualification.

Where to watch Sunderland vs Tottenham live?

- Time: 20:00 on April 12.

- Venue: Stadium of Light

- Competition: Premier League Round 32.

- Live stream: F PT Play.

Sunderland vs Tottenham team information

• Sunderland:currently has 4 injured players.
• Tottenham:currently has up to 7 injury cases.

Expected lineup Sunderland vs Tottenham

• Sunderland:Ellborg; Geertruida, O’Nien, Alderete, Reinildo; Diarra, Xhaka, Sadiki; Le Fee, Brobbey, Talbi.
• Tottenham:Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Spence; Sarr, Gray; Tel, Simons, Richarlison; Kolo Muani.

Form & Head-to-head history

• Sunderland form:In the last 5 matches of the home team, they won 2, drew 1, and lost 2 times, scoring 4 goals and conceding 4 goals.
• Tottenham form:In the last 5 matches, Tottenham won 1, drew 1, and lost 3 matches, scoring 7 goals and conceding 14 goals.
• Head-to-head history:In the last 5 encounters, Sunderland lost 3 and drew 2 times.