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)
Hello and welcome to our LIVE coverage of tonight's Champions League action.
Our primary focus here will be Spurs vs Real Madrid at Wembley but we'll also be chucking in regular updates from around Europe as Manchester City take on Napoli in Italy and Liverpool host Maribor at Anfield.
Spurs vs Real Madrid teams confirmed
Spurs starting XI: Lloris; Trippier, Sanchez, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Davies; Dier, Winks; Eriksen, Dele, Kane
Subs: Vorm, Aurier, Rose, Dembele, Sissoko, Son, Llorente
Madrid starting XI: Casilla; Achraf, Nacho, Ramos, Marcelo; Casemiro, Kroos, Modric; Isco; Ronaldo, Benzema
Subs: Moha, Vallejo, Theo, Lucas Vazquez, Asensio, B Mayoral, Ceballos
Manchester City and Liverpool teams confirmed
Manchester City starting XI to face Napoli: Ederson; Danilo, Stones, Otamendi, Delph; Fernandinho, De Bruyne, Gündogan; Sané, Sterling; Agüero
Liverpool starting XI to face Maribor: Karius; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Klavan, Moreno; Can, Milner, Wijnaldum; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Salah, Firmino
Liverpool put seven past Maribor a couple of weeks ago. Another win tonight will give the Reds' qualification hopes a huge boost.
Besiktas draw with Monaco
Monaco reached the semi-finals last season but they look unlikely to make it out of the groups this time around. They've just drawn 1-1 away to Besiktas in today's early game - a result that keeps them bottom of Group G with just two points from four games.
Rony Lopes opened the scoring for Monaco in Istanbul but Cenk Tosun's second-half penalty for the hosts ensured the match ended as a draw.
Guardiola: We will suffer like never before against Napoli
Manchester City have been irresistible domestically and on the continent this season but they face an acid test of their European credentials in Naples tonight.
This is what Pep Guardiola had to say about his side's chances earlier this week:
“There will be moments to defend, moments when we suffer like never before and I’m going to see how we react.
“Fear? There is no fear. A lot of respect for the way Napoli play, yes, but there should never be fear.”
Tottenham have never beaten Real Madrid
Mauricio Pochettino's men delivered a superb display in the Spanish capital a couple of weeks ago but only got a point to show for it.
Here is how the last (and only) five meetings between Spurs and Real Madrid have ended:
- Real Madrid 1-1 Tottenham, Champions League (October 2017)
- Tottenham 0-1 Real Madrid, Champions League (April 2011)
- Real Madrid 4-0 Tottenham, Champions League (April 2011)
- Real Madrid 0-0 Tottenham, Uefa Cup (March 1985)
- Tottenham 0-1 Real Madrid, Uefa Cup (March 1985)
Zidane: We will have better days
On tonight's match against Spurs: "We're expecting a tough match, just like at the Bernabeu.
"We're ready for this test and it's a fantastic setting for a wonderful match."
On Real Madrid's poor start to the season: "There are always some tough spells and we have had that at the start of this campaign, this is happening to us now in the league. It is a normal occurrence during the season.
"We mustn't lose our heads and just tell ourselves that's the situation, but we'll have better days.
"This is a different competition and a big match with first place in the group at stake."
Quotes from BT Sport
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