Real Madrid destroy Spurs hopes of a big second leg
Facing Real Madrid in the Champions League was always going to be a massive task but Spurs knew what they had to do. Keep it as tight as possible in the Santiago Bernabeu and then bring the Spanish side back to White Hart Lane to be turned over. With the Champions League final being played at Wembley this season and of course, the fact that the year ends in 1, which is considered lucky by some Spurs fans, there was a genuine hope that Tottenham Hotspur could spring a shock over Jose Mourinho’s men.
Second leg should be a formality
Those dreams were left in tatters as Real Madrid triumphed 4-0 in a game that will surely see the end of Spurs Champions League campaign. Not only that but it reduces the spectacle of the second leg in London. If there had been a goal or two in it, a packed White Hart Lane would have created a highly intimidating atmosphere and there would have been great value in competing against the bookmaker to see who would progress to the semi-finals.
As it stands, it would appear that Real Madrid can come to London fairly relaxed and with no real need to win the game. It would not be a surprise to see Tottenham win by a goal or two but with Real Madrid knowing that an away goal on the night needing Spurs to score 6 to progress, it isn’t going to be a straightforward game of football. Jose Mourinho is no stranger to White Hart Lane and will know exactly what to expect when he arrives in London and he will not expect to ship the amount of goals required to put his side out. Real Madrid, for all of their attacking flair, can still defend like a typical Mourinho team and it really does look like the end of road for Harry Redknapp and his boys.
Former foe haunts Spurs again
The pain of defeat would be bad enough for Spurs fans but the fact that former Arsenal mad Adebayor grabbed the first two goals of the evening will be especially sickening for the Spurs man. The striker had a habit of scoring against Spurs during his time in England and he got Real Madrid off to a perfect start with a quick opening goal. He followed this up with a second and the game was over as a contest before half-time. The sending off of Peter Crouch for two silly lunges meant that Spurs had no out-ball and no way to keep possession which meant Madrid could attack in waves if they so desired.
It was no surprise to see the finishing touch being applied to Cristiano Ronaldo. It was his first appearance in a number of weeks after picking up an injury but most fans expected Mourinho to bring him back into the line-up against a team he had performed well against in the past. The Portuguese star completed the rout and made it mission impossible for Spurs in the second leg at White Hart Lane.