Tottenham now face the same question in Europe and at home… how far can they really go?

Tottenham have now reached a similar point in Europe to that which they find themselves in the Premier League: established contenders but how far can they really go?

Credit is due for winning a difficult Champions League group with one game to spare. Borussia Dortmund are not the force of old - concern among supporters at their present dreadful run, now at one win in nine games, detracted from the usual vociferous atmosphere at Signal Iduna Park last night - but this was still a come-from-behind victory that showcased the best elements of Spurs’ character.

Chastened by their north London derby defeat to Arsenal, Mauricio Pochettino’s side responded impressively with a win that backs up their success against Real Madrid which makes them a threat to any team in the last 16. It represents a huge step forward from their previous shambolic group stage campaign given today marks exactly a year since they were knocked out of the competition with a 2-1 defeat at Monaco.

“The season before, we were watching the draw and we thought, ‘Oh Monaco, Leverkusen and CSKA’ and we thought we had a chance for the next stage,” said Pochettino. This draw we looked and thought, ‘Okay, we are going to compete… and we say nothing’.

“And look now we are first, top of the table. It was difficult because Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and APOEL Nicosia are always difficult but we try to enjoy and be competitive and try to win, that was the idea in every single game.”

It is often difficult to quantify the effect of a result “reverberating around Europe” such as Tottenham’s win over Real but the shockwaves were clearly felt in this part of Germany with Dortmund fearful of Spurs’ attacking threat on the counter, even after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s opener.

There was an air of resignation in the ground once Harry Kane equalised and by the time Heung-min Son fired Tottenham ahead with 14 minutes left, Spurs had asserted their superiority in a manner befitting a team with far more experience at this level.

It is another sign of Tottenham’s progress but now the question is the same at home and abroad: can they win something? Manchester City’s form at home makes that a tall order, as does the pedigree of Real Madrid, Barcelona and the rest in Europe. To do so would be a remarkable achievement but one Pochettino will be aiming for.