Tottenham Hotspur Draws 1-1 With Leicester: What We Learned

Never before has Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City met with European adventures on the mind.

Last season's champions Leicester and chasers Spurs shared the points at White Hart Lane with a 1-1 draw as both looked ahead to midweek fixtures in the Champions League.

Bayer Leverkusen is the visitor to north London on Wednesday, when Claudio Ranieri will be in Denmark as his team looks to continue its perfect record against FC Copenhagen.

But, first, domestic duties. A weakened Spurs side, still missing striker Harry Kane and defender Toby Alderweireld, was looking to keep up with the chasing pack, while the Foxes aimed to steer away from the relegation zone.

Spurs summer-signing Vincent Janssen scored his first goal in the Premier League from the penalty spot moments before half-time, having been hauled down by Robert Huth.

But Leicester hit back just three minutes into the second half with a new arrival of its own. Ahmed Musa, the Nigerian forward, latched onto a Jamie Vardy cross to level the scores. Here, Newsweek looks at what we learned:

Options Lacking For Pochettino

With the score level at 1-1, and Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino facing a fifth match without a win, he twisted on his shiny leather shoes and looked at the options behind him.

Outfield options on the bench: Georges-Kevin Nkoudou, Kieran Trippier, Josh Onomah, Harry Winks, Ben Davies and Cameron Carter-Vickers. Pochettino turned away.

This will, perhaps, become an issue for the Argentinian. Premier League fixtures sandwiched by trips across Europe will require a rotation of players in the Spurs team, but, for now, a strength in depth is lacking.

Kane and Alderweireld's absence are, admittedly, being felt, but injuries are to be expected.

Pochettino wants the Spurs to remain a contender for the Premier League title, but he requires a reliable squad rather than team.

Ranieri Stops the Rot For The Champions

Three wins from three in the Champions League far outweighs Ranieri's hopes for Leicester's European campaign. But any achievement in the competition would be tempered by a relegation battle.

After a turbulent start to the season, Leicester is stabilising. The Foxes much-adored Italian manager has taken them back to basics; the team is more compact and disciplined.

Robert Huth and Wes Morgan have rediscovered the grit at the heart of the Leicester defense; Danny Simpson and Christian Fuchs tucked inside, while Danny Drinkwater marshalled the midfield.

Chasing the European dream is the focus for the season at the King Power Stadium for Ranieri and his men. But picking up points against the likes of Pochettino's Spurs are vital.

Spurs Await Kane's Comeback

Tottenham's short trip to north London rivals Arsenal next Sunday will mark 10 games since Harry Kane hobbled off with an ankle injury against Sunderland on September 18.

Ahead of Wednesday's visit of Bayer Leverkusen, that has included four wins, four draws and one defeat. Spurs has just about survived the spell without its talisman up top.

Son Heung-min has been the surprise package for Pochettino, scoring three times in wins over Middlesbrough and CSKA Moscow, before being influential in the 2-0 win over Manchester City.

But this was what Vincent Janssen, the Dutch striker, was brought to north London for. With the fixture list growing this season for Spurs, Pochettino forked out £17 million for the 22-year-old.

Start to life in England has been difficult for Janssen, taking eight appearance before scoring his first goal—which came in a 5-0 victory over Gillingham in the EFL Cup.

Despite scoring his first goal in the Premier League for Tottenham, Janssen still appears off the pace and rather one-dimensional, constantly looks to shift the ball onto his right foot. Spurs' options are limited without Kane.

Leicester Remind Spurs Of Bitter Memories

Until the very last day of the season, the Foxes faithful will continue to sing it. "Champions of England, we know what we are," was sung throughout the 90 minutes in the away end at White Hart Lane.

Those words were like lemon poured into a fresh wound for Pochettino and his men. Memories of that May day at Stamford Bridge, when Spurs' dreams of a first championship title in more than half a century were shattered.

"2-0 up and you f***ed it up," the away fans heckled at their hosts, reminding them of Chelsea's comeback that ensured Leicester City was Premier League champion.