REPORT | 01/11/2017 | Alberto Navarro
Cristiano Ronaldo scored the Whites' goal, and they still have qualification for the last-sixteen in their own hands.- Champions League
- Matchday 4
- Wed, 01 Nov
3
1Driven on by their home fans, Tottenham came out of the blocks strong. Playing with a high defensive line, the game began at a startling pace and was contained to barely 30 metres of the pitch. Kane was the first to send a warning shot off, with a chip which was comfortably saved by Casilla with 11 minutes gone. Then it was the English side who went ahead just before the half-hour mark. Trippier sent in a dangerous cross from the right, and Dele Alli was on hand to score a goal that should not have stood, as Trippier received the ball in an off-side position.
Reaction from the visitors
The goal brought an immediate reaction from the European champions, who created three decent opportunities to level things up again. The first fell to Casemiro on 29’, with a shot which Lloris did well to keep out. Three minutes later, Cristiano Ronaldo tried his luck after finding space with a neat stepover to evade two defenders, but his shot was palmed behind by the French stopper. The Portuguese man was at it again though, this time following a pass from Achraf, but this time the ball ended up in Lloris' gloves.
REAL MADRID HAVE SCORED IN 39 CONSECUTIVE AWAY GAMES IN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE.
The first half didn’t end there. Both teams had more chances to add to the score. Harry Kane came close in the 40th minute but Ramos did enough to keep out the effort in front of Casilla. Madrid responded three minutes later with a shot from Benzema from the edge of the area but Lloris did enough to prevent the goal. The second half started very differently from the first. Real Madrid were enjoying better possession closer to the opposition area and creating a lot of chances on the Tottenham goal, but a huge slice of bad luck saw the English side extend their lead in the 56th minute. A Dele Alli shot was deflected off Ramos and left Casilla in the Real Madrid goal with no chance.
Cristiano Ronaldo goal
Real Madrid weren’t going to give up though, and Ramos quickly had a double chance. Dier was on the goal line to prevent the captain's effort from the corner making it 2-1, and as the rebound fell to him once more, his point-blank shot struck Cristiano Ronaldo in the six-yard box. A double serving of bad luck for a team that soon conceded a third after a counter-attack that Eriksen finished in the 65th minute. Despite this the Whites kept looking for a way back in to the game and in the 80th minute Cristiano Ronaldo finished well after a pullback from Marcelo. He could have got a second when five minutes later a powerful shot caused problems for Lloris. Qualification for Real Madrid is in their own hand as eyes turn to the next round.
