Tottenham’s Champion’s League outing with Real Madrid just keeps getting more and more exciting. As if the prospect of the fresh-faced, attacking-minded newcomer to the Champion’s League facing off against one of the biggest and best teams in Europe isn’t mouth-watering enough, it now appears that both teams will have more of their best players available for selection than was first thought. No excuses then, game on.
Gareth Bale, Tottenham’s star winger (and big-game man) has been struggling through the tail end of the season with a hamstring injury and there were fears that he wouldn’t be fit in time for tonight’s kick-off. Thankfully Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp recently revealed that the signs were good:
“Let’s hope he has no problems and, if he is okay, he will play,”
He also had good news regarding defender William Gallas who is thought to be fit and ready to play. Good news considering that defenders Ledley King, Younes Kaboul and Jonathan Woodgate will all miss out. Steven Pienaar and Niko Kranjcar also won’t feature – Pienaar has a groin injury and Niko has a swollen foot from Tottenham’s 0-0 draw against Wigan.
Real Madrid also have a number of injury worries, though the news have been somewhat kinder to them over the last couple of days. Star player Cristiano Ronaldo has been a doubt for the match thanks to his thigh-injury, but now he’s been included in Real Madrid’s squad and Jose Mourinho has suggested that he might be willing to take a ‘risk’ on his fitness.
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Kaka and Marcelo, two injury-doubts have also been included in the squad. The threat of both Kaka and Ronaldo may be somewhat overwhelming for Tottenham fans, but at least neither will be fully fit. Tottenham have every chance – especially considering that Real Madrid will definitely be missing their in-form striker Karim Benzema who has slotted home 12 goals in his last 12 games.
We know what threat Real Madrid represent in Europe. The advantage that Tottenham have over their Spanish rivals is that they remain something of an unknown quantity. Sure Real coach Jose Mourinho will know everything about Tottenham – but will he be able to adequately convey all this knowledge to his players? I’m sure that many Real player’s know little about Spurs beyond the fact that they outmatched both Inter Milan and AC Milan and that they will have to be wary of Gareth Bale should he play.
But there’s so much more to this team. Will they be ready to deal with Luka Modric? Do they remember just what Rafael van der Vaart is capable of? Will they be expecting Tottenham to go after them or shut up shop?
We know that Real’s threat will come in large part down their wings. We know that they’ll work hard to keep possession. We know that if pressed at the back they’ll make mistakes. When it comes to Tottenham in Europe you never really know what to expect. Will they be as nervous as they were in the second-leg against AC Milan or will they go for it as they did against Inter?
Tottenham have to be brave and be bold and make use of their underdog status as they have throughout this tournament. Real Madrid could be in for a real shock.
Great odds: Tottenham to win 1-0 – 20/1.
Good odds: Peter Crouch to score at any time – 11/4.
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I wonder whether Harry has worked on Modric’s link man to take advantage of his sudden outbursts & dribbling skills to finish off the strikes that he so often creates but no nobody to finish off? Just as in our last two games where he worked his butt off but the scoring chancers he created went astray.