Tottenham Hotspur defeated German side Hoffenheim 3-0 in a pre-season friendly at home as academy graduate Mikey Moore scored twice in the second half.
Brazilian forward Richarlison opened the scoring in the first half following a flowing team move created by £100 million summer signing Sandro Tonali in front of nearly 55,000 supporters at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The fixture provided supporters with their first opportunity to see Tottenham under new head coach Roberto De Zerbi, who has spent the summer building a bigger, tougher, and more muscular squad.
Midfield authority and Tonali's debut performance
Tonali offered immediate power and authority in central midfield, qualities Tottenham have lacked in recent seasons. The former Newcastle United midfielder controlled the ball with a smooth first touch to open passing angles before releasing left-back Andy Robertson, whose first-time cross was swept home by Richarlison for the opening goal.
Off the ball, Tonali displayed a quiet confidence that lifted those around him. Operating in a 4-2-3-1 system, the Italian lined up alongside Lucas Bergvall and Conor Gallagher, with Tonali and Bergvall acting as a deep-lying pivot while Gallagher pushed higher as a roaming number 10.
Bergvall, the 18-year-old Swedish midfielder, caught the eye during the first half by demanding the ball from the centre-backs, rolling past initial challenges, and driving forward. His style recalled the early performances of Yves Bissouma under former manager Ange Postecoglou.
Bergvall remains open to a transfer in pursuit of regular first-team football, with Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United monitoring his situation as competition increases following the £85 million arrival of Mateus Fernandes.
Moore scores brace as Tel provides assists
Despite remaining somewhat light in attack, Tottenham added two further goals in the second half through 17-year-old winger Mikey Moore. Both of Moore's goals were set up by French forward Mathys Tel from the left flank.
A week after letting opportunities slip at the back post against Spanish club Getafe, Moore showed sharp instincts to cover ground and finish Tel's initial delivery. Shortly after, the academy right-winger secured his double with a neat first touch and an angled finish into the far corner.
Defensive resilience and squad rotation
Tottenham kept a clean sheet despite conceding several early scoring opportunities. Hoffenheim forward Adam Hlozek sliced through the defence before striking the crossbar, while Wouter Burger glanced a free header wide of the target.
Goalkeeper Toni Kinsky produced several key saves to maintain the lead. Kinsky and centre-backs Jan Paul van Hecke and Marcos Senesi continued to play out from the back into midfield under clear instructions from De Zerbi, taking calculated risks in possession.
Senesi completed 80 minutes in his first competitive outing since appearing as a substitute for Argentina in the World Cup final. The defender featured alongside Van Hecke in a pairing that dominated in the air and satisfied De Zerbi with their aggressive defensive work.
Before kickoff, Spanish defender Pedro Porro paraded his winners' medal on the pitch. In the 81st minute, De Zerbi made four changes, replacing Senesi, Moore, Gallagher, and Richarlison with Hardy, Adewole, Hall, and Elliott-Parris, before Donley replaced Bergvall in the 88th minute. Goalkeeper Brandon Austin, defender Harrison Takai, and midfielder Tyrese Byrne remained unused substitutes.
Closed-doors fixture scheduled for Sunday
Tottenham will conclude their matchday preparations on Sunday with a second pre-season match against Hoffenheim behind closed doors at the club's training ground. Most of the players who missed Saturday's victory are expected to feature in the Sunday fixture.
