We learnt from Spurs vs Madrid
1. Kane makes welcome return
The forward’s return made for a welcome sight after the 1-0 defeat at Manchester United last weekend. Kane showed what the north Londoners have been missed. His willingness to run the channels helped Spurs break the lines repeatedly. His mere presence in attack occupied the Real Madrid centrebacks and his intelligent running distracted them enough to allow Dele Alli to ghost into spaces. Kane’s performance was everything a striker wants from a lone forward except a goal. And Mauricio Pochettino will absolutely make sure he knows that.
2. Pochettino raises eyebrows
While Kane’s inclusion made for a pleasant surprise, the exclusion of numerous Spurs first-team starters raised a few eyebrows. Against the power and precision of Real Madrid (albeit not of lately), the expectation was that Pochettino would look to utilise his squad’s quicker players to catch the visitors on the break. Yet, the likes of Danny Rose, Son Heung-min, Serge Aurier and Moussa Sissoko were all on the bench, while youngster Harry Winks once again returned to the fray. But in the end - as ever – Poch got it right. Kieran Trippier got the nod at right-back and although Spurs could have had more speed in the side to catch out Madrid, in the end key to their success was speed of thought. Those little moments like Eriksen’s leave to Alli, then subsequent decoy sprint that held the defender just long enough to allow Alli to shoot and make it 2-0.
3. Pride comes before a fall
As back-to-back European champions, a certain degree of arrogance is to be expected from Real Madrid – but such a trait has seemingly served to undermine Zinedine Zidane’s men, who failed to show the necessary respect to their English hosts yesterday at Wembley. Indeed, Alli’s opener came as a direct result of such complacency. As a whole, Real looked lax in defence and generally halfhearted in possession, while passes further afield were being misplaced and played without any general purpose. It was their season in microcosm and bodes ominously for their title defence.
4. Casemiro victimised by Spurs
Casemiro has had a peculiar career with Real Madrid. He has, at different times, been a sellable commodity, political chess piece, key man and now a midfield problem, targeted by opponents. At Wembley we saw Spurs repeatedly try and run at the Brazilian, the man who is supposed to be the back four’s safety blanket and the man who liberates Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and Isco. But the way that teams force him to make difficult passes and expose his lack of speed is becoming an issue. Tottenham danced around him and Casemiro is now one more problem for Zinedine Zidane to try and solve.
5. Ronaldo makes it interesting
Real Madrid had made some chances and, eventually, managed to breach Spurs’ defence. Ronaldo found the net and gave his side 10 minutes of hope. But once again Spurs tightened up, they barely gave up another good chance and they held on for a famous result that not only guarantees their passage to the next round – the knockout phase – but also makes them big favourites to secure an easier route through the competition as group winners. The Independent