Tottenham Hotspur went down to AS Monaco 2-1 in their opening Champions League fixture on Wednesday night.

Spurs attracted a record crowd of 85,011 to Wembley for their Group E opener against the French club with an air of expectancy around English football's headquarters.

However, Mauricio Pochettino's side failed to deliver as Monaco skipped away to a two-goal lead in the first half before the North Londoners cut the deficit on the stroke of half-time.

Monaco delivered early when Fabinho closed down Erik Lamela's pass which fell to Bernardo Silva who drove into the area before unleashing with a left-footed effort into the left corner to kick things off for Leonardo Jardim's outfit.

Just over 15 minutes later and Monaco were two to the good when a cross from the left fell kindly for Thomas Lemar to lash home from the edge of the six-yard box.

The work was all in front of Spurs and they managed to make some headway just before the break when Toby Alderweireld met Erik Lamela's inswinging corner at the front post to head home.

Dele Alli wasn't far off with a dipping volley early in the second half before Monaco keeper Danijel Subasic denied the midfielder's curling effort on 77 minutes.

Spurs had a great chance to equalise minutes later but Harry Kane shot straight at Subasic before Alli volleyed wide at the death to condemn Spurs to a home defeat in their top flight European return.

Despite the negative result, the attendance numbers gave Spurs their highest ever home crowd, the highest home attendance for an English club in the Champions League and there highest English club home attendance overall.

Tottenham next meet CSKA Moscow in Russia as Monaco prepare to host Germany's Bayer Leverkusen on Matchday 2 on September 27.

2016/17 UEFA Champions League - Group E

Tottenham Hotspur (ENG): 1 (Toby Alderweireld 45')
Monaco (FRA): 2 (Bernardo Silva 15', Thomas Lemar 31')

Wembley Stadium, London, England - 85,011