Tottenham Hotspur put on a clinical attacking display in their 3-1 home win over Southampton in Matchweek 31, capitalizing on high-quality chances and taking command despite Southampton edging the ball in possession (51%). Spurs generated an impressive xG of 2.70 from 13 total shots, converting three of their eight efforts on target. Southampton, despite some promising spells, couldn’t match Tottenham’s finishing edge, scoring once from an xG of 1.57. Southampton’s loss confirmed their relegation, the earlier relegation ever in the English Premier League. Ouch.
Stat Breakdown: Quality Over Quantity for Spurs
Southampton actually finished with more total shots (12 to Spurs’ 13) and more blocked efforts (6 to 3), but the quality of Tottenham’s attempts told the story. The hosts had more shots from inside the box (11), and their xG per shot (0.207) doubled Southampton’s (0.131). Spurs also had more touches in the box (18 vs 17) and more shots on target (8 vs 4).
Southampton racked up more fouls (20) and yellow cards (1 apiece), indicating the pressure they were under trying to contain Tottenham’s fluid front line.
Momentum and Match Flow
The xG momentum chart shows Spurs striking early and never really letting go of control. Brennan Johnson scored twice (13′ and 41′), including a low-xG finish in transition and a well-worked second from inside the box. Southampton’s lone goal, a late effort from Mateus Fernandes (89′), came far too late to spark a comeback. Spurs’ third came in added time, courtesy of M. Tel (xG 0.76), a fitting exclamation mark on a confident attacking performance.
Shot Maps: Clean Looks for Tottenham, Wasteful Finishing for Saints
Tottenham’s shot maps show precision: high xG chances close to goal and in central areas. All three goals came from inside the six-yard box or central penalty area – high-probability zones. Johnson’s opener (xG 0.24), followed by a close-range effort (xG 0.32), and Tel’s near-post finish (xG 0.76) reflected their ability to create and finish clear-cut chances.
Southampton’s 12 shots tell a different story – scattered outside the box, many speculative, and with a large portion blocked. Only four reached the target, and only one found the net – a direct effort from Fernandes that carried just 0.30 xG.
In-Possession Tactics: Pass Map Insights
Southampton’s pass map shows a side trying to build wide through full-backs Walker-Peters and Manning, with Aribo dropping deep to link. However, there was a disconnect between midfield and the front three. Dibling and Sulemana were mostly isolated, and the network was flatter than Spurs’, showing less verticality in attack.
Tottenham’s pass map was far more cohesive, with Bentancur and Bergvall central to their rhythm. Maddison connected well with Spence and Son on the left, while Pedro Porro was a consistent outlet on the right. Solanke’s movement as the central striker was well-supported by the width and runs of Johnson and Son, giving Spurs layered attacking options and triangles in the final third.
Final Word
Tottenham showed the value of efficiency and structure in this matchup. Despite having less of the ball and fewer total passes, their attack looked sharper, more purposeful, and ultimately more effective. Southampton were brave in approach but lacked cutting edge.