writer: Richard Morgan
A youthful and inexperienced Tottenham side lost 1-0 at Pacos de Ferreira in the first leg of their Europa Conference League play-off tie on Thursday.The visitors made 11 changes from the team that beat Man City in their Premier League opener on Sunday, with head coach Nuno Espirito Santo handing full debuts to new signings Pierluigi Gollini, Cristian Romero and Bryan Gil.However, it was Lucas Silva's well-taken goal on the stroke of half-time that proved the difference between the two teams heading into the return leg in north London next Thursday.Tottenham interested in Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma.Harry Kane trains with Spurs team-mates for first time this season.How Nuno suffered his first loss as Spurs boss.Spurs headed to Portugal having left behind every player who featured against the Premier League champions on the weekend, allowing Nuno to get a first glimpse of summer signings Gollini, Romero and Gil.Tottenham's Cristian Romero and Giovani Lo Celso, right, react after Pacos de Ferreira score the opening goal.It was the latter - who arrived from Sevilla in July - who initially caught the eye, with one fine early run down the left almost creating an opener for Ryan Sessegnon, making his first Spurs appearance since March 2020 having spent last season on loan at Hoffenheim.Gollini also impressed in goal with some confident handling in the first half as the hosts, who finished fifth in the Portuguese league last season, gradually grew into the contest in Porto, before deservedly taking the lead just before the break.
