Randal Kolo Muani was lucky to be on the field. The Tottenham striker had endured a moment of indescribable panic when the front right tyre on his Ferrari blew out on the motorway on Tuesday as he drove to Stansted airport for the team flight to Frankfurt.

The car was a write-off but Kolo Muani walked away from it. He had to take a later flight to make this Champions League game and he was plainly determined to make his mark on it.

Kolo Muani was once a hero to the Eintracht fans, scoring prolifically for them in the 2022-23 season. They were not happy to see him back and booed his every touch. The best one was that with which he broke the deadlock just after half-time to set Spurs fair for another win in this competition and a fast track to the last 16.

Thomas Frank left his domestic troubles in London. The under fire manager can reflect with pride at his team’s performances in Europe – even if Frankfurt were dismally off-colour. They are in crisis after a run of poor form led them to sack their manager, Dino Toppmöller. Things have not improved under the interim Dennis Schmitt. Eintracht already knew they had no chance of qualifying for the playoff round. They played like it. The difference in physical terms between the teams was stark.

Kolo Muani’s goal was a well-taken volley; the loanee’s only other goals for Spurs were the two he scored against his parent club, Paris Saint-Germain, earlier in the competition. The result never felt in doubt. Spurs were far superior and Dominic Solanke, who Frank used as a substitute to manage his load, made sure of it towards the end with a low finish into the far corner.

Frank has fought fires on so many fronts and he went into battle here with only 11 established outfield players. It was difficult to argue the case for Spurs having made advances on the medical side as nine players were out injured. A further clutch were ineligible in Europe; a consequence of uneven recruitment.

There was snowfall in the countdown to kick-off, the temperature around freezing and the Eintracht diehards were keen to turn up the volume. Their support was non-stop and magnificent. Spurs cut through it all. It was a performance of control, Frank sticking with his 3-4-2-1 formation, having asked the fit-again João Palhinha to play at right centre-half, and being rewarded.

What is it about Europe? Frank had suggested last week that the aura of a Champions League night might lift his players. “It’s still a little bit under the floodlights, the Champions League, everything,” he said. “Sometimes it can be more tricky to really hit the same wherever it is … away from home … where it’s not as exciting.”

There is also an undeniable truth. Spurs have faced some mediocre opposition and Eintracht were arguably the worst. They had conceded three goals in each of their previous five matches and it was easy to see why. They were so lax, errors scarring their game. There was a weakness about them in the duels. Spurs had an open invitation to play.

The Eintracht midfielder Hugo Larsson did run through in the 45th minute to rattle the crossbar but it was an isolated burst and Spurs might have been out of sight by then. Djed Spence and Destiny Udogie pushed high from the wing-back positions, sometimes into inside forward areas while Xavi Simons was dangerous with his dribbles.

Simons had an early goal ruled out for an offside against Udogie in the buildup, Palhinha worked Kauã Santos with a header and there were a flurry of chances around the half-hour. Kolo Muani crossed for Udogie, who failed to connect with the header in front of goal – a glaring miss. Wilson Odobert hit the post from outside the area and there was the moment when Simons nipped onto a risky Santos pass only to want too many touches.

The breakthrough had been advertised and it felt as though the identity of the scorer was somehow written. It was a smart finish from Kolo Muani after Cristian Romero had nodded a Simons cross over to him from beyond the far post. It was incredible to see how much time and space Romero had. Or maybe not considering the overall sweep of the Eintracht performance.

Eintracht almost snatched an equaliser when Ellyes Skhiri floated a ball in and Aurélio Buta could not direct the volley when unmarked in front of goal. But it was not a night when Spurs would suffer. Kolo Muani had gone close before the Buta miss and, after it, Santos would save from Pape Sarr. Solanke’s goal came after a terrible back header from another replacement, Mahmoud Dahoud.

Spurs’ final placing of fourth almost demands an exclamation mark given the Premier League form and the narrative around Frank. He could enjoy the moment.

“Seventeen points, fourth in the group, six clean sheets, it’s very impressive,” Frank said. “I was very happy with how we progressed with the ball, we were quicker up the pitch and we created a lot. The 3-4-3 has also looked good in the last three games.”