When Tottenham last hosted the Champions League winners, it was Inter Milan in November 2010 - and the north Londoners claimed a famous victory.
With Gareth Bale repeatedly roaring past Maicon at White Hart Lane, Spurs triumphed 3-1 against a side featuring Walter Samuel, Lucio, Wesley Sneijder, Javier Zanetti and Samuel Eto’o.
Harry Redknapp’s team went on to top the group, finishing a point ahead of the club that had lifted the trophy the previous May, and eventually reached the quarter-finals.
Bale and his team-mates were cheered on that night by Harry Winks - a 14-year-old Spurs supporter at the time and a member of the club’s academy, who was dreaming of being part of such occasions. Seven years on, he has his wish.
The young midfielder played a key role when Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham team took the lead against current European champions Real Madrid a fortnight ago before drawing 1-1 at the Bernabeu. That tie left both sides level at the top of Group H with identical records. Now, as they prepare to lock horns again at Wembley tomorrow, 21-year-old Winks is targeting a repeat of that memorable night against Inter and a victory that would give Spurs another golden opportunity to top their group ahead of the title holders.
“I watched that match at home with my dad,” said Winks. “It was a great night, a great game to watch as a Spurs fan, so fingers crossed we can get the same sort of result.
“We’re going to go into the game expecting of ourselves that we can do it and we’re looking forward to it.
“It was a disappointing result on Saturday [against Manchester United] but we’ve got to put that behind us.
“It’s going to be a tough game, they’re one of the best teams in the world, so we’re going to respect them - and I guess they’re going to respect us as well because we played well away at the Bernabeu. It’s a game we’re looking forward to. We got a good result against them last time, so hopefully we can get another one and finish off the group in a strong way. We’re doing well in the Champions League, so we’re confident going into the game.”
Winks will hope to get the nod again after starting against Real, Liverpool and United.
And, having acquitted himself well, another impressive outing would only bolster his chances of receiving another call-up to the senior England squad, as Gareth Southgate prepares to pick his group for the upcoming friendlies against Germany and Brazil.
“Every opportunity I get, I make sure I work hard to stay in the team,” said Winks. “It’s been a good few weeks for me. Unfortunately, Saturday wasn’t the same, but every opportunity I get I go out there to work hard and do well.”