There was only pain in the rain in Spain for Tottenham's inconsolable goalkeeper Antonin Kinksy as he was hauled off just 16 minutes into his debut in the Champions League proper after a remarkable double gaffe.
Spurs interim boss Igor Tudor had brought the 22-year-old in for Guglielmo Vicario for the last 16 clash against Atletico Madrid, with Kinsky seen as better with his feet than the Italian. That assessment fell to pieces with the young Czech keeper as he gifted Atletico their opener inside the Metropolitano just six minutes in.
Kinsky slipped onto his backside on the rain-hit turf as he went to pass the ball and ended up hitting it straight to Ademola Lookman on the edge of the box. He passed inside to Julian Alvarez and the former Manchester City man teed up Marcos Llorente to score.
Spurs players were slipping all over the sodden grass and Micky van de Ven was next to go over on 14 minutes. The Dutchman tumbled to the deck to allow Pape Matar Sarr's pass to roll through to Antoine Griezmann and the experienced Frenchman ran through to beat Kinsky with ease.
While those two goals could be chalked up to slips, the third two minutes later was simply a horrendous gaffe from the young Spurs goalkeeper. He scuffed a simple pass in his box just a yard in front of him to Alvarez, who had time to glance over at Kinsky as the keeper slumped to the turf with his hands on his head, before poking the ball into the empty net.
Tudor had seen enough and called for Vicario to replace his replacement. Kinsky walked off the pitch and straight down the tunnel, chased by Spurs substitutes Dominic Solanke, Conor Gallagher and Joao Palhinha as they attempted to console him.
Believed to be watching over it all was former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino, a guest of Atletico as the USA coach kept an eye on their midfielder Johnny Cardoso ahead of the World Cup. The Argentine was returning to the scene of Tottenham's Champions League final defeat to Liverpool in 2019 and it was the first time he had watched his old club from the stands since.
The 54-year-old had been serenaded by Spurs fans on his flight to Madrid on Wednesday as they called for him to return to north London this summer. He would have seen the size of the task at the relegation-threatened club first hand.
Things only got worse for his old club after 22 minutes. Vicario made a reflex save to stop Sarr's header flying into his own net from a Griezmann free-kick, but Robin Le Normand headed the loose ball over the line.
Spurs did hit one goal back four minutes later. Good work from Richarlison culminated in the Brazilian cutting inside and finding Pedro Porro, who struck a low shot into the bottom left corner.
However, Atletico got a fifth goal just 10 minutes into the second half. Richarlison saw his header saved brilliantly at one end by Jan Oblak only for Atletico to break up the pitch with Alvarez running through, Porro unable to keep up, and the attacker slotted home clinically to heap further misery on the north London side in a wretched night in Spain.
Dominic Solanke hit another back for Spurs with a powerful effort after Oblak hit his own poor kick straight to Porro and the right-back found the striker to smash home.
Spurs ended the game with nine men on the pitch after Palhinha and Romero both had to go off following a clash of heads in added time. Both men could miss Sunday's trip to Liverpool at the very least if they are found to have concussion.
The final whistle blew soon after, marking the first time Tottenham have suffered six consecutive defeats in their entire history.
Here are our Tottenham player ratings from the defeat:
Antonin Kinsky
An absolute horror show for the young Czech. Slipped to hand Atletico their opening goal, couldn't stop Griezmann's second and then there was no excuse for the scuffed kick that allowed Alvarez to stroll through and score the third. Not a single thing to give him a mark for. 0
Kevin Danso
All over the shop with the defence in the chaotic first half and looked to have suffered an ankle injury in the first half but ran on. 4
Cristian Romero
Back in the team and was unable to prevent the carnage around him. Came over to have a long chat with Tudor before Kinsky was taken off. He sent a header against the right-hand post in the first half. Came off in the final seconds with what looked like concussion after a clash of heads with Palhinha. 5
Micky van de Ven
Slipped for the second goal and never really looked comfortable throughout. 4
Pedro Porro
Had a tough night with Lookman at one end but contributed at the other. He fired home a low effort into the net in the first half and set up Solanke to score in the second. Tried to chase back with Alvarez for Atletico's fifth goal but knew he was never going to make it. 7
Archie Gray
Fought away in the centre of the pitch but Spurs were chasing shadows whenever the hosts broke. 5
Pape Matar Sarr
Saw his pass go straight to Griezmann after Van de Ven's slip and almost scored an own goal but for Vicario's save, with the ball knocked in by Le Normand anyway. Never really looked to have the rhythm of the game with some loose touches. 4
Djed Spence
Aside from a couple of nice touches he offered very little throughout the encounter. 4
Randal Kolo Muani
Offered even less and came off at half-time. 3
Richarlison
Did well to get the ball to Porro for Spurs' first goal and then had a header saved superbly by Oblak. A daft booking means he will miss the second leg though. 6
Mathys Tel
Looked promising early on but faded out of the first half and was taken off at the break. 5
Subs
Guglielmo Vicario
Unfortunate with the fourth goal as he saved the initial effort and almost saved the follow-up. Made a couple of good saves after that in a match he was not meant to play in. 6
Dominic Solanke
Made it goals in three consecutive games with his powerful finish in the second half. 6
Conor Gallagher
Gave Spurs some fresh legs if little extra quality. 5
Joao Palhinha
Came on for 20 minutes or so before having to leave the pitch following that clash of heads. 5
Xavi Simons
Brought on the final 10 minutes of action and couldn't find a way through. N/A
