Mateus Fernandes scored what he described as the best goal of his career during his Tottenham debut in a behind-closed-doors friendly on Wednesday. The goal came within three minutes of the match, which saw Tottenham secure a 1-0 victory over League One side MK Dons.
Fernandes, an £85m signing from West Ham, struck a first-time volley from range into the top corner. This decisive goal was a highlight as manager Roberto de Zerbi assessed his players. The match also marked the first appearance for £100m signing Sandro Tonali, who partnered Fernandes in a midfield double pivot after joining from Newcastle.
Debut Performances and Key Signings
The friendly provided an early look at Tottenham’s new acquisitions. Alongside Fernandes and Tonali, goalkeeper Martin Dubravka also made his debut, having joined on a free transfer from Burnley in June. Dubravka impressed with a sharp save from close range, reacting quickly to push a header over the bar.
Tottenham’s recent fortunes have seen a significant upturn, moving from a Premier League relegation battle to securing survival and then bringing in two record signings. This positive trajectory has coincided with the arrival of ambitious manager De Zerbi, who took over following Igor Tudor’s struggles last term.
Fans have been keen to see how Fernandes and Tonali, acquired for a combined cost of £185m, would contribute to this progress. While an opening pre-season friendly against a team from two divisions lower may not be a definitive test, it offered moments of quality that pleased supporters.
Fernandes’s goal was particularly notable. The 22-year-old positioned himself to meet MK Dons goalkeeper Craig MacGillivray’s long punch clear from a corner. He then struck the ball first time from 20 yards, sending it into the top corner via the post.
Reflecting on the goal, Fernandes stated, "It was my favourite goal of my career. By a mile." He added, "I need to do this more and more times, to shoot outside of the box, I know that I can do it. This just gives me confidence for the rest of the days."
Former Tottenham defender Sebastian Bassong, speaking on the club’s media channels, praised the strike, drawing comparisons to goals scored by Gareth Bale against Stoke City and Zinedine Zidane’s volley against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League. Bassong highlighted Fernandes’s balance, quality, connection, and his focus on the ball, describing him as a "gifted player."
Both Fernandes and Tonali were substituted at half-time as De Zerbi made several changes. Before their departure, the pair had dominated the midfield, with Tonali demonstrating decisiveness on the ball and using his experience to guide his new teammates. Dubravka entered the game at the break for Antonin Kinsky in goal, joining a more youthful second-half side.
Pre-Season Schedule and Viewing Options
Tottenham’s pre-season schedule includes several matches that will be available live on SPURSPLAY, the club’s platform for live and on-demand video. This includes all seven confirmed Men’s First Team games, covering their tour of New Zealand and Australia, as well as behind-closed-door friendlies at Hotspur Way.
The club is set to fly to New Zealand on Thursday for their pre-season tour. Their next fixture is against A-League side Auckland FC in a friendly at Eden Park on Sunday, with kick-off scheduled for 04:00 BST.
SPURSPLAY subscribers can access a range of content, including live Under-18s and Under-21s home matches, select Under-21s away games, and selected Women’s First Team matches. The platform also offers an enhanced matchday experience with full-match replays of every fixture and an extensive archive of historic video content.
The pre-season fixtures confirmed for the Men’s First Team are:
- Spurs vs MK Dons – Wednesday 22 July – 5pm
- Auckland FC vs Spurs – Sunday 26 July – 4am (UK)
- Sydney FC vs Spurs – Wednesday 29 July – 10.45am (UK)
- Chelsea vs Spurs – Saturday 1 August – 10.45am (UK)
- Spurs vs Getafe CF – Saturday 8 August – 3pm (UK)
- Spurs vs TSG Hoffenheim – Saturday 15 August – 3pm (UK)
- Spurs vs TSG Hoffenheim – Sunday 16 August – 12noon
A SPURSPLAY subscription is included as a benefit for One Hotspur+ Members and Season Ticket Holders for the 2026/27 season. Alternatively, an annual subscription is available for £45, reduced to £35 for One Hotspur Members. Subscribers can access content via tottenhamhotspur.com/spursplay or the Spurs Official app.
The next match for Tottenham is against Auckland FC on Sunday, 26 July.
Source: bbc.com