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)
39' - Casemiro has just produced one of the most theatrical dives you'll ever see. You have to watch that on one of the highlights programme tonight.
41' - Denied! Moussa Sissoko's scuffed effort lands at the feet of Harry Kane but the Spurs striker's miscued shot is blocked by Sergio Ramos. That should've been a second goal for the hosts.
Half-time - The referee brings a close to the opening period and Spurs lead through Dele Alli's 27th-minute goal.
Half-time scores from around Europe
- Besiktas 1-1 Monaco (full-time)
- Dortmund 1-0 APOEL
- Porto 1-0 RB Leipzig
- Liverpool 0-0 Maribor
- Napoli 1-1 Manchester City
- Sevilla 1-0 Spartak Moscow
- Shakhtar Donetsk 2-1 Feyenoord
- Tottenham 1-0 Real Madrid
47' - Harry Kane shrugs off Sergio Ramos before sending a low cross in towards Christian Eriksen. Luka Modric gets back well though and clears the ball away.
GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Maribor (Salah, 49)
Liverpool have made the breakthrough at Anfield and it's Mo Salah with the goal - his 10th of the season in all competitions.
GOAL! Napoli 1-2 Manchester City (Stones, 48)
"Anything you can do, I can do better!"
John Stones saw defensive partner Nicolas Otamendi equalise in the first half and clearly fancied one-upping him by getting the goal to put City ahead.
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