Tottenham 3-0 Hoffenheim: Mikey Moore Shines in Pre-Season Victory

Mikey Moore struck twice as Tottenham eased past Hoffenheim 3-0 in their first home outing of pre-season, a night that belonged as much to the club’s future as to its freshly assembled present.

Richarlison set the tone with a sharp first-half finish from an Andy Robertson cross, before Moore’s second-half brace – both laid on by Mathys Tel – wrapped up a comfortable win and kept Roberto De Zerbi’s side unbeaten this summer.

Four new signings made their home bows: Robertson, Sandro Tonali, Jan Paul van Hecke and Marcos Sensi all tasted the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the first time in Spurs colours. The performance suggested De Zerbi’s ideas are starting to bed in, even with several big names missing.

Micky van de Ven, James Maddison and Mateus Fernandes were among the notable absentees, their omission a reminder that this squad is still incomplete in both fitness and personnel. Spurs supporters will now look to Sunday’s behind-closed-doors rematch with Hoffenheim at the training ground for a first glimpse of some of those missing faces before the Premier League opener at Brentford next Saturday.

Moore and Bergvall answer awkward questions

Two young players with uncertain futures chose a good night to speak with their feet.

Moore had been on the verge of a loan move to Bundesliga side Cologne last week. That plan is now paused, and his display here will only complicate the conversation. The 19-year-old arrived at the back post to turn in Tel’s low cross for his first, marking it with a muted celebration that hinted at a player aware of the noise around him.

His second was far more expressive. Again Tel found him, and this time Moore finished with real composure, then let the joy show. A Spurs academy product, he stands at a crossroads: stay and fight for minutes under De Zerbi, or head out to accelerate his development elsewhere. After this, the decision looks anything but straightforward.

Lucas Bergvall finds himself in a similar limbo. Two months ago, the midfielder looked close to the exit, with Newcastle and Nottingham Forest circling. De Zerbi has since moved to address the Swede’s concerns over game time and has been true to his word in pre-season.

Bergvall played regularly again here and delivered the kind of tidy, assertive performance that will only strengthen his head coach’s resolve to keep him beyond deadline day. Whether the market allows that is another matter, but on this evidence he belongs in the conversation for minutes this season.

Robertson wastes no time

Andy Robertson did not leave Liverpool to sit on another bench. At Tottenham, he looks determined to make that clear.

Operating down the left, the Scotland captain repeatedly drove into advanced areas and whipped in the sort of trademark deliveries Anfield saw for years. One of them finally found its reward: a precise, arcing cross met by Richarlison for the opener.

When Spurs signed the 32-year-old, much of the talk centred on his experience and influence in the dressing room. Against Hoffenheim, he reminded everyone of his on-field edge. With Destiny Udogie yet to feature in pre-season and question marks lingering over the Italy international’s fitness, Robertson has stepped into the gap with authority.

On this form he looks nailed on to start at Brentford. Udogie, nine years younger, suddenly has a serious battle on his hands to reclaim that left-back spot.

Kinsky stakes his claim

At the other end, Antonin Kinsky quietly underlined why he now wears the No 1 shirt.

The 23-year-old goalkeeper produced several important stops to preserve the clean sheet, reading Hoffenheim’s efforts well and reacting sharply when called upon. He handled crosses with assurance and looked comfortable with the ball at his feet, an essential trait in a De Zerbi side.

It represents a striking turnaround from his nightmare in Madrid seven months ago, a performance that once cast doubt over his long-term prospects at the club. Now he has overtaken Guglielmo Vicario, who was left out here as Juventus monitor the Italy international.

Kinsky has not been handed the gloves; he has taken them. And with the league campaign a week away, he shows no intention of giving them back.

What comes next?

Spurs will run it back against Hoffenheim on Sunday, this time away from the cameras at their training base. De Zerbi will hope to fold in some of his missing names, sharpen combinations and make final calls on those hovering between the starting XI, the bench and the loan list.

Then comes Brentford, live on Sky Sports, and with it the first real measure of what this new-look Tottenham might be.

Unbeaten in pre-season, stocked with fresh faces and energised youngsters, they have cleared the first hurdle. The real test starts now.