What: UEFA Champions League Quarter-final (first leg)
Who: Real Madrid vs Tottenham Hotspur
When: Tuesday 5th April, 2011, at 19:45 UK time
Where: Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain

Down and Out

Real Madrid might be contesting their first Champions League quarter-final in six seasons, but they will be doing so with low morale having been defeated at home by Sporting de Gijon, effectively destroying their title aspirations as Barcelona widened the gap to eight points hours later with a win against Villarreal.

All good things must come to an end, and that was the case for Jose Mourinho as the Portuguese coach suffered his first league home defeat in nine years. Speaking after falling against Manuel Preciado’s team, the Real Madrid coach threw in the towel on the league race, saying that his team should now concentrate on their clash with Tottenham Hotspur, before admitting that he might recall some injured players ahead of time: “The mathematics say that the league is not lost yet, but realistically, if the gap goes from five to eight points, then it will practically be impossible. Tomorrow, I’ll talk to the injured players and only then will I decide whether we take the risk.”

The Champions League seems at this point Mourinho’s only escape from a failing season. With Marcelo missing this one and Cristiano Ronaldo’s possible involvement at less than 100%, the former Chelsea coach will have to get everything right when he prepares to meet an old London rival.

Concerns Ahead

As Real Madrid’s title aspirations were delivered a knockout blow, Tottenham Hotspur’s quest towards a final four finish suffered a setback as they only managed a draw against Wigan Athletic, leaving them five points behind fourth-placed Chelsea. While the result isn’t that tragic, Spurs must nonetheless start harvesting some wins should they want to end the season on a high.

While the Champions League draw hasn’t favoured Tottenham – they were drawn with the second likeliest winners – coach Harry Redknapp nonetheless refused to think about the forthcoming blockbuster before the match’s fog against Wigan has settled, all while bemoaning his growing injury list, which largely comprises defenders, a visible setback against a team such as Real Madrid. One key player whose participation in the match remains questionable is young Welsh sensation Gareth Bale. The left-footed star played no part in the draw against Wigan, as Redknapp himself affirmed: “We will have to see [if he’s ready]. His hamstring is still a little bit tight. You never know with those injuries. Until he pushes it we wouldn’t be sure."

But the fact that Spurs will be missing some top performers does not nullify their threat to the hosts. Harbouring the likes of Jermain Defoe, Luka Modric, Rafael van der Vaart and Aaron Lennon, the Lilywhites know very well that even a score draw would be a good result, as they will meet Los Blancos on their own ground in the return leg.

 

Recent form

Real Madrid:
Real Madrid 3-0 Lyon (16/03; Champions League)
Atletico Madrid 1-2 Real Madrid (19/03; La Liga)
Real Madrid 0-1 Sporting Gijon (02/04; La Liga)

Tottenham Hotspur:
Tottenham Hotspur 0-0 AC Milan (09/03; Champions League)
Tottenham Hotspur 0-0 West Ham (19/03; Premier League)
Wigan Athletic 0-0 Tottenham Hotspur (02/04; Premier League)

Key absences

Real Madrid: Kaka; Fernando Gago; Marcelo; Karim Benzema (doubt)

Tottenham Hotspur: Jonathan Woodgate; Wilson Palacios; Younes Kaboul; William Gallas; Ledley King; Alan Hutton; Gareth Bale (doubt)

Players to watch

Real Madrid – Xabi Alonso: Real Madrid’s midfield kingpin was missed during the defeat against Sporting at the weekend. His presence reassures his companions and he helps to dictate play, and his absence was plain to see as Esteban Granero failed to pull the strings. Mourinho will undoubtedly welcome him back with open arms.

Tottenham Hotspur – Rafael van der Vaart: Another one of Real Madrid’s rejected players come home. Rafael van der Vaart left Madrid last summer for London as he quickly found out that life next to Mesut Ozil and Kaka would be impossible at the Bernabeu. The Dutchman has since developed into a great player for his new club, and will no doubt have much to prove on the night.

Match Prediction

Beaten and battered at home, now would be the perfect time for Spurs to hurt Real Madrid and come back home with an advantage. Jose Mourinho will likely slap some sense into his team after their lacklustre display against Sporting however. A tight game, with a goal apiece. Real Madrid 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur.

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