Superb Spurs beat Real at Wembley

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Tottenham 3 Real Madrid 1


Dele Alli scored twice and Christan Eriksen added the third as Tottenham beat the holders to book their place in the Champions League knockout stage.

Alli, who was suspended for Spurs’ first three games in the competition, poked home Kieran Trippier’s cross before finishing a superb solo breakaway all by himself after the break.

Eriksen all but finished Real Madrid off with 25 minutes remaining when he fired home Harry Kane’s pass from another swift counter-attack.

Spurs lost Toby Alderweireld to injury in the first half but managed to survive after Cristiano Ronaldo pulled a goal back late on, with Ben Davies clearing another effort off the line.

Real Madrid knocked Tottenham out of the Champions League in 2011 and the gulf was stark that year, but Mauricio Pochettino’s side came of age on a dramatic night at Wembley.

Alli and strike partner Kane, who returned from a hamstring problem, were a handful throughout and Alli beat his marker to score the opener on 29 minutes.

Moussa Sissoko had replaced Alderweireld shortly before the goal, with Eric Dier moving to centre-back, and Hugo Lloris was forced to save from Ronaldo and Karim Benzema before the interval.

Real quickened their tempo and committed players forward more frequently in the second half, but it made Tottenham increasingly dangerous on the break.

Alli beat both Nacho and Casemiro with skill before finding the net via Ramos on 56 minutes and then Kane put Eriksen clean through on goal nine minutes later, and he coolly applied the finish.

Ronaldo blasted in a goal back from inside the box but Spurs held on to ensure they top the group after four matches, with Borussia Dortmund away and APOEL Nicosia at home to come.


Tottenham (5-3-2): Loris; Trippier, Sanchez, Alderweireld (Sissoko 26), Vertonghen, Davies; Dier, Winks (Dembele 66), Eriksen; Alli, Kane (Llorente 79).
Subs: Vorm, Aurier, Rose, Son