Tonight’s Uefa Champions League clash between Real Madrid and Tottenham on paper promises to be one of those great games that everybody loves with end-to-end action and excitement galore.
• In tonight’s other game defending champions Inter Milan host Schalke at the San Siro. In some ways it’s easy to forget that Inter are defending champions because they are not being considered as potential winners, something which is rare. Last season’s treble winners have lost the aura and fear factor they would have had if Mourinho stayed, or if Rafael Benitez hadn’t made such a mess of his spell in charge at the start of the season. Inter are coming from a demoralising 3-0 loss to Serie A rivals AC Milan on Saturday. Schalke could have joy through Jefferson Farfan on the right-hand flank, especially if he will be up against the sluggish Christian Chivu. Still, Inter should have too much for Schalke, especially with machineman Samuel Eto’o and Wesley Sniejder in tow.
But in reality this is unlikely to be the case. Here are five key areas for tonight’s match…
1. Marcelo vs Aaron Lennon
The fullback areas are always a predictable battleground, especially when Spurs are involved. Harry Redknapp side’s attacking prowess has principally been based on the searing pace of wingers Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon. Tonight the duo comes up against an equally adventurous pair of fullbacks in Sergio Ramos and Marcelo.
This battle however will not be as explosive as it could become in the second leg. The match this evening will not be a free open game, rather it is more likely to be a typical European first leg tie with little space and tentative approaches from both teams. As a result the much anticipated mano-a-mano battle between Bale and Ramos may not materialise. Bale is possibly the most devastating player around from broken play as he showed when tearing apart Inter Milan’s Maicon in the group stages.
But he is unlikely to have this space tonight; Ramos will get help from talented workhorse Angel Di Maria. It is on the other flank that there may be more leeway for a conflict between Marcelo and Lennon. Marcelo has become a major attacking outlet for Madrid since the turn of the year. And with Cristiano Ronaldo expected to return, Marcelo will have little cover for his raids. So there could be a more direct confrontation between Marcelo and Lennon.
2. The midfield battle
Real Madrid aren’t a typical Spanish side, especially under Jose Mourinho. Their game is not based on winning through possession the same way as Barcelona or even the Spanish national team. When they do have spells of possession it tends to be to slow the game down, and is primarily based in their two thirds of the field.
It is unclear whether Xabi Alonso will play, but without him this problem is exacerbated, as exemplified in Madrid's 1-0 loss to Sporting Gijon on Saturday where they attempted to use a more direct approach.
Spurs’ midfield, with Sandro shining, has been outstanding in the Champions League lately. They are athletic and are able to cover a lot of ground. Although Spurs will be happy to sit back, if Madrid aren't able to possess the ball well they will open themselves up to Spurs attacks through the wings and from the central tandem of Peter Crouch and Rafael van der Vaart.
3. Rafael van der Vaart’s return
Rafael van der Vaart makes a swift return to the Santiago Bernabeu after being sold to Tottenham for a snip £8 million in the off-season. The Dutch playmaker has been the signing of the season so far and he will be crucial again with his clever touches and movement. He has forged a good partnership with Crouch, often latching on to the tall striker’s flick-ons to get goals. 12 van der Vaart goals this season have come in this fashion and he will be extra motivated to prove himself.
4. The return of Cristiano Ronaldo
The talisman of the Real Madrid team is back and it is a major psychological boost for the hosts. Ronaldo is amazing attacking weapon. On the other hand it might be fair to say Madrid’s best performance of the season, a 3-1 away win over Racing Santander, came in the absence of Ronaldo, a match where Madrid illustrated slick inter-play and quick movement. With Ronaldo the overall tempo of the team is slowed down and it can lead to an overall drop in production of the players around him. Ronaldo demands the ball and often dominates Madrid’s play.
5. The away goal
Tottenham might come to the Bernabeu with the plan to not lose like they did against AC Milan. But a 0-0 draw wouldn’t be the best of results. Tottenham aren’t yet a European superpower and don’t pose any mental block that say going away to Old Trafford, Stamford Bridge or Anfield would. Madrid will more than fancy their chances of an away goal and a win in the second leg if the score is goalless.
Prediction…
There is pressure on both teams. Tottenham don’t want the tie to get away from them in the first leg. On the other hand Spurs know they may need to go back to London with at least an away goal. Madrid on the other hand are all but out of the La Liga race. The Champions League has become their Holy Grail, now even more than before. There will be massive pressure on them tonight. Madrid lost to Sporting Gijon on Saturday, who’s to say that after losing an incredible nine-year unbeaten home record in league football Mourinho won’t taste a second defeat in his backyard within a week.
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