DORTMUND -- Three conclusions from Tottenham's 3-0 defeat to Borussia Dortmund in the Europa League round-of-16 first leg.
1. Dortmund dominant
There are plenty of similarities between Tottenham Hotspur and Borussia Dortmund -- their second-place league standing for starters, plus progressive managers and success based on relentless pressing -- but Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino had resisted temptation to compare the clubs before kickoff.
That was wise because in the Argentine's 100th match in charge, Dortmund delivered a reminder of how far Spurs must come to mix with Europe's elite.
A Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang goal and two from Marco Reus ensured a comfortable 3-0 victory for the hosts and virtually assured Dortmund's passage to the Europa League quarterfinals ahead of the rematch at White Hart Lane.
Prematch, Pochettino insisted that the Premier League and Europe remain joint priorities, but his lineup told a different story. Spurs made seven changes from the 2-2 draw with Arsenal, only one enforced by Dele Alli's suspension. No Harry Kane, no Mousa Dembele, no Eric Dier, no Erik Lamela -- and this in the hardest possible European match before the easiest possible league match, against Aston Villa.
It took around six minutes for the hosts to click into gear, by which time Christian Eriksen had tested Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller and Spurs teenager Joshua Onomah, making his fourth start, had forced a corner. They were half-chances, and Dortmund were soon having whole ones. Erik Durm poked wide from Aubameyang's pass, before the Gabonese volleyed the chance too high under pressure. There was plenty of last-ditch stuff from Spurs centre-backs Toby Alderweireld and Kevin Wimmer before Aubameyang had the ball in the net, finishing from close range after Henrikh Mkhitaryan's brilliant volley was well saved by Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. He was offside.
Dortmund were finding space all over the pitch, but it was no surprise that the opening goal came from a cross from the left. Onomah, 18, was positive and not fazed but unsure defensively, leaving Kieran Trippier exposed. With a half-hour played, left-back Marcel Schmelzer crossed and Aubameyang, unmarked, glanced a header past Lloris.
The second half continued in a similar vein. After five minutes, Mkhitaryan -- Dortmund's conductor-in-chief -- freed Aubameyang one-on-one with Lloris but for once the striker hesitated, prodding into the path of Gonzalo Castro, who slammed his shot against the post.
Spurs survived, but it was temporary.
Shortly after Pochettino introduced Mousa Dembele for Nacer Chadli in an attempt to wrestle back midfield control, the match -- and probably the tie -- was beyond Tottenham, as Reus volleyed home at the back post from substitute Neven Subotic's knockdown.
Spurs' attempts to stem the yellow tide were becoming increasingly frayed, and Dortmund saved their best for last; Reus coolly and emphatically finished a flowing move with a side-foot from Castro's cross.
For all Spurs' endeavour off the ball, Eriksen's early effort remained their best opportunity, as Dortmund sat back and soaked up the pressure for the final 20 minutes.
2. A tale of two strikers
Or, more accurately, of one striker and Chadli and Heung-min Son.
Much of the prematch discussion focussed on the in-form forwards, Aubameyang and Kane. But while Aubameyang scored his 33rd goal in 38 appearances, Kane was given (most of) the night off, leaving first Chadli and then Son to deputise.
Aubameyang has a history (of sorts) with Spurs. In 2012 he turned down a move to White Hart Lane from Saint-Etienne because Spurs were "weird" during negotiations. Spurs were left to rue that on a night when Aubameyang's brilliance highlighted their own striking inadequacies.
The only thing weird about this match was that Aubameyang did not add to his first-half goal. While he provided the focal point of all the hosts' attacks, linking attack and midfield and stretching Spurs' back line, Chadli was nonexistent, failing to show for ball on the rare occasions when Spurs regained possession. At half-time, Pochettino moved Son, who has scored five times in five appearances against Dortmund, into the lone striker role, but the South Korean did not fare much better.
When Spurs finally introduced Kane a minute after Reus' second, it was too late and there is compelling case that Pochettino would have been better off giving him the night off altogether. Spurs could yet win the Premier League with only one "proper striker" -- Pochettino's words -- but they could not muddle by on two fronts.
3. Spurs left wondering
Before Thursday night, this Europa League last-16 tie was a free hit for Tottenham. Win against the competition favourites and Europe takes notice. Lose -- and there is little shame in losing to Borussia Dortmund -- and focus solely on a maiden Premier League title challenge.
After 90 minutes, nothing has changed in that respect, but a drubbing will always lead to difficult questions, and Spurs were undoubtedly drubbed by Dortmund.
After resting his stars, the Spurs boss can no longer say with a straight face that he cares equally about the Premier League and Europe and perhaps he will feel a small sense of relief this evening.
But Pochettino is now without a win in three and facing an all but inconsequential second leg in a week's time, in which he must strike a balancing act between restoring some pride and ensuring he does not lose stars unnecessarily to fatigue or injury.
Spurs host Dortmund next Thursday knowing their Europa League dream is over at the last-16 stage for third season running and their fans can legitimately wonder, again, if it was worth all the effort.