Tottenham take on Real Madrid in the Berneabau tonight, but it isn't the first time Spurs have faced the reigning European Champions in the group stage of the Champions. It happened in 2010 when Spurs played then Champions Inter Milan at the San Siro and then a return at White Hart Lane. In today's piece I will look back at that night in the San Siro, when a certain Welshman stole all the headlines.
20th October 2010
Spurs visit the San Siro on the back of a draw away to Werder Bremen on opening week and an impressive 4-1 home win v Fc Twente.
Spurs are without the suspended Rafa Van Der Vaart after the Dutchman was dismissed against Twente.
Inter came in to this game with sort of similar results but opposite teams. They had drawn 2-2 away to FC Twente in matchday 1, before demolishing Werder Bremen 4-0 at the San Siro.
The game started horribly for Spurs. Javier Zanetti opened the scoring for Inter before Heurelho Gomes was given his marching orders for bringing down Jonathan Biabiany in the box. Samuel Eto'o doubled the lead from the spot before Dejan Stankovic added a third. The first half demolition was completed when Eto'o added his second of the game, 10 minutes before half time. Things looked really bleak for Spurs.
Then came a the savior from Wales. Gareth Bale, announced himself to the world in the second half. Bale scored his first shortly after the interval, as he rips past Maicon, which might become a theme i think, and waltz's past Zanetti before burying it in the bottom right corner. His second towards the end of the 90 was very similar but his third was a classy finish after Lennon had sped into the box and played it across to Bale who slotted it again into the bottom right. Bale's hat trick may not have been enough to get Spurs any points, but it laid the foundation for what was to come in the return leg, which i will save for another time.
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