Tottenham vs Real Madrid - as it happened: Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen secure historic European victory
Re-live the action from Tottenham's thrilling 3-1 victory over Real Madrid at Wembley
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Your support makes all the difference.Tottenham host Real Madrid at Wembley Stadium on Wednesday night hoping to welcome Harry Kane back into their starting XI.
This crucial clash with the European giants has been prefaced by two difficult games without their star striker. After the successive losses to West Ham in the League Cup and Manchester United in the Premier League, manager Mauricio Pochettino will be optimistic that the return of the talismanic forward will ensure he retains his record of never losing three in a row at Spurs.
The Argentine can also take heart from his side’s strong showing in the first-leg of this Group H double-header. Scrapping hard for a 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu two weeks ago, the north Londoners will now be looking to take the attack to their Spanish visitors at Wembley, knowing that a victory here would confirm their place in the knockout rounds, whilst a draw and another between Borussia Dortmund and APOEL would leave them needing only a single point from their two remaining games.
With this comparative lack of pressure, Spurs will be eager to have a go at Los Blancos on their (adopted) home turf, especially given Madrid’s indifferent start to the season. Losing 2-1 to league newbies Girona at the weekend, the reigning Liga champions now sit eight points adrift of Barcelona at the top of the table. They will also be forced to travel to London without both Raphael Varane and ex-Spurs forward Gareth Bale, who are both nursing muscular injuries.
Boosted by the very probable return of Kane, then, and with Dele Alli also returning from a three-match suspension, a rejuvenated Tottenham line-up will see tonight as the ideal opportunity to record a famous victory under the Wembley Arch.
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What time does it start?
Tottenham vs Real Madrid kicks off at 19:45 GMT.
Where can I watch it?
The match will be shown live on BT Sport 2 from 19:00. Highlights will be shown at 22:15 on BT Sport 2.
It’s a big game for…
Luka Modric: Although the spotlight has been on world-record signing Gareth Bale returning (or not, as it has transpired), to north London, we should not forget the diminutive midfielder, who will be making his first return to Spurs since departing in 2012. The usually metronomic Croatian was out-of-sorts against Girona, misplacing over 30% of his passes, and will be hoping for a strong recovery tonight.
Best stat…
1: Spurs have never beaten Madrid in their five competitive clashes, losing three times and drawing twice.
Remember when…
Madrid hosted Spurs in the quarter-finals of the competition in 2011. Two particular highlights include Peter Crouch getting two yellow cards within 14 minutes and – at about 3.27 – Sergio Ramos very nearly providing the assist of the century.
Player to watch out for…
Harry Kane: The latest player to join the Spurs to Madrid procession? The 24 year-old striker, amidst flattering comments from the Real hierarchy, has certainly been linked with a record-breaking move to the Spanish capital. If he does return for tonight, though, his mind will only be on one thing. Kane having a good night is the most sure-fire way that Spurs can create history.
Previous three meetings…
Real Madrid 1 (Ronaldo) Tottenham 1 (Varane (OG)), Champions League, October 2017
Tottenham 0 Real Madrid 1 (Ronaldo), Champions League, April 2011
Real Madrid 4 (Adebayor x2, Di Maria, Ronaldo) Tottenham 0, Champions League, April 2011
Form guide…
Tottenham: WWDWLL
Real Madrid: WWDWWL
Odds…
Tottenham: 28/13
Real Madrid: 23/18
Draw: 28/11
(Odds provided by 888 Sport)
Klopp: Ox is 'dynamite'
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has endured a slow start to his Liverpool career since his £40million summer switch from Arsenal.
However, he has been handed a start against Maribor tonight and earlier this week Reds boss Jurgen Klopp raved about the impact the England midfielder has had on the Anfield club.
"He has shown his class each and every time he has had the opportunity on the pitch and the weekend was another example of this," Klopp said.
"He is like dynamite when he comes on. Aggressive in the most positive way. Front foot always. Looking to attack and create.
"These performances come because of how good his attitude is in training at Melwood. He has the highest quality in everything he does; sometimes I think he is the last to realise this."
Quotes from This Is Anfield
Pochettino: We must learn from United defeat
On his goals at Spurs: "To win some trophies would be fantastic. That is, of course, my target.
"You must work hard to make that happen and it will be difficult but the most important thing is belief and I believe we can achieve big things.
"Our challenge is to compete with the best teams in Europe. Today, for me, only the club can improve if we have good performances in the Champions League and the Premier League."
On bouncing back from Saturday's loss to Man United: "The defeat against Manchester United was very painful but of course we must keep going and learn from the mistakes. Now we have a massive game at Wembley against Real Madrid."
Just over five minutes to go until kick-off in seven of today's eight Champions League matches.
The players are out on the pitch at Wembley. The Champions League theme tune is being blasted out. Kick-off is just moments away!
3' - Isco lets fly from 20 yards with his left foot but the Spaniard's shot is straight at Hugo Lloris, who collects the ball at the second time of asking.
5' - Sergio Ramos gets his head to an Isco corner but puts the ball well over the crossbar. Very good chance, that.
Real Madrid have started really positively here. They've been slick in possession and Spurs haven't really had a sniff yet.
10' - Close! Harry Kane dinks a lovely ball through to Christian Eriksen and Sergio Ramos has to make a last-ditch challenge to prevent the Dane from getting a shot away.
Spurs have grown into the game after a slow start and Real Madrid are looking seriously suspect defensively.
11' - Dele Alli wins the ball back in a good position on the halfway line and immediately looks for Harry Kane. The Spurs striker manages to get on the end of the pass despite Nacho's attempted interception but his chipped effort doesn't have enough loft on it and Kiko Casilla catches the ball.
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