Lloris heroics help Spurs make a point

Ronaldo on target as Madrid aces ride their luck

HARRY Kane hailed goalkeeper Hugo Lloris after his stunning saves helped Tottenham to a point in a 1-1 draw at Real Madrid.

An own goal from Raphael Varane, under pressure from Kane, put Tottenham in front, but Cristiano Ronaldo’s penalty levelled matters.

Kane and Christian Eriksen came close to snatching victory for Spurs while, at the other end, Lloris pulled off a stunning save to deny France team-mate Karim Benzema.

England striker Kane said: “Of course they are going to have chances, it’s going to be a tough game but I thought we played well.

“We made it tough for them, Hugo pulled off some unbelievable saves and a point at the Bernabeu — you would take that every day of the week.

“It shows you how far we’ve come as a team and it puts us in a great position in the group.”

On his chance

steal the

points, Kane added: “The header in the first half was a good reaction save and the one in the second half I thought I had done everything right.

“I opened the body, put it where I wanted it but somehow (Keylor Navas) finger-tipped it around the post.

“But that’s football. Sometimes that goes for you. He’s made a very good save and we’re happy with a point in the end.”

Lloris (left, with

Kane) was also happy with a point.

He said: “It’s a pleasure to share with my team-mates. To play here in the Bernabeu was a fantastic feeling. I think we

were better in the first half. Second half they pushed until the end but we had some good chances to score.

“At this level it’s a great feeling to get a good draw.”

Not even five minutes had passed and Ronaldo had hit the post with a thumping header.

With Lloris committed, Karim Benzema should have slotted home the rebound but, much to Ronaldo’s disgust, the Frenchman side-footed wide.

Spurs had, however, seen they could get at Madrid and in the 28th minute they took the lead. Aurier whipped a cross into the front post, where Kane attempted to flick the ball behind his legs towards goal.

The striker failed to connect but marking tightly was Varane and he was unable to prevent it deflecting off his leg and into the net.

Madrid hit back, with Isco drawing a smart save from Lloris and Marcelo driving into the side-netting from the angle.

It looked like Tottenham might make it to half-time but, two minutes short, they caved.

Aurier gave away possession trying to overplay on the right, and then brought down Toni Kroos in the area with a diving tackle.

Ronaldo made no mistake. Madrid were bouncing again and could have scored twice early in the second period were it not for the brilliance of Lloris.

First, Casemiro dug out a cross from the right and Benzema, four yards out with the goal at his mercy, somehow headed against his diving compatriot’s leg.

Then soon after Harry Winks over-ran the ball in midfield, Casemiro fed Ronaldo and, as the forward unleashed a stinging shot, Lloris instinctively jumped to push it over the bar.

The game was still in the balance with 20 minutes left, and Kane had a big chance to win it. Fernando Llorente slid him in one-on-one but Kane’s attempt to guide the ball inside the far post was denied by the fingertips of Navas.