Tottenham Hotspur Vs Brighton & Hove Albion [2–2] – Premier League 2025/2026: Why Did Spurs Drop Crucial Points? – Tactical Analysis

Tottenham Hotspur hosted Brighton & Hove Albion in Gameweek 33 of the 2025/2026 Premier League season, with the contest ending in a 2-2 draw.

Spurs went ahead once in each half, only to throw away their lead by conceding in the injury time on both occasions.

The 2025 UEFA Europa League winners are on 31 points (7W, 10D, 16L) with just five games left. Spurs are currently sitting in the relegation zone, one point behind West Ham United, who have a game in hand at the time of writing.

With an away point earned, Brighton are still in the race to finish in the top half of the table with 47 points, as they currently sit in ninth.

Through this tactical analysis, we will discuss Brighton style of play, Fabian Hürzeler tactics, positional rotations, strengths in attack, and areas of weakness.

Tottenham Hotspur Vs Brighton Lineups & Formations

Let's look at how Roberto De Zerbi and Fabian Hürzeler fielded their squads.

Tottenham Hotspur Lineup Vs Brighton

The hosts played in a 4-1-4-1 formation.

Antonín Kinský started in goal.

The back four were Pedro Porro (right-back), Kevin Danso (right centre-back), skipper Micky van de Ven (left centre-back), and Destiny Udogie (left-back).

The latter was replaced by Djed Spence (76’).

Rodrigo Bentancur played as the pivot and was substituted by João Palhinha (67’).

Conor Gallagher and Yves Bissouma were the two centre-midfielders.

They made way for Lucas Bergvall (76’) and Archie Gray (57’), respectively.

Randal Kolo Muani (right) and Xavi Simons (left) played as the two wingers.

The former made way for Mathys Tel (57’).

Dominic Solanke played as the lone striker.

Brighton Lineup Vs Tottenham Hotspur

The visitors played in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Bart Verbruggen started between the sticks.

The back four were Mats Wieffer (right-back), Jan Paul van Hecke (right centre-back), Olivier Boscagli (left centre-back), and Ferdi Kadıoğlu (left-back).

Yasin Ayari and Pascal Groß played as the double pivot.

The former was replaced by Charalampos Kostoulas (82’).

Diego Gómez (right) and Yankuba Minteh (left) played as the wingers.

The former was replaced by Kaoru Mitoma (20’) due to injury, who was later taken off and replaced by Maxim De Cuyper (75’).

Jack Hinshelwood operated as the attacking midfielder behind skipper Danny Welbeck (striker).

They were replaced by Matt O’Riley (75’) and Georginio Rutter (75’).

Brighton Style Of Play & Strengths

Brighton Attacking Phase

From the get-go, Brighton tactics attempted to keep the ball and penetrate with short to mid-range ground passes.

They formed diamonds across multiple areas of the pitch, which underscored a clear intent to assert numerical superiority.

The diamond in build-up comprised the goalkeeper, the two centre-backs, and one of the pivots.

The objective was to progress the ball through one of the three outfield players.

The opponents reacted by having three pressing players stick close to each outfielder.

In situations when the pressure was high, the keeper stayed deep, and one of the pivots dropped between the centre-backs.

With both pivots involved, one at the base and the other at the top of the diamond, the Seagulls replicated the numerical advantage in the first phase.

When playing out from the back in the defensive third, they attempted to execute in-to-out passes to progress the ball.

These in-to-out passes are quickly executed third-man passes that involve the attacking side playing the ball from an open space to a tight space, for a moment, to squeeze the ball to another open space.

The keeper finds the pivot, who finds the right centre-back.

Since the pivot receives with his back to goal, he uses his teammate, who is facing the play, to progress the ball.

Roberto De Zerbi tactics, recognising this approach, began to stick closer to the Brighton players involved in the first phase.

Spurs pressed them from angles that made it difficult for Verbruggen (GK) to find short options.

This was the time the other Brighton players dropped in the central zone to increase the number of passing angles.

Three Spurs players press Brighton.

Hinshelwood (CAM) drops to increase numbers.

In doing so, he attracts one of the three pressers.

One presses Verbruggen, cutting the passing lane to the right centre-back; the other presses the CAM, and the third presses the pivot.

With the right and central zones closed off, the passing lane to the left centre-back remains open, which the keeper uses to find progression.