Tottenham analysis: Dele Alli delivers after Champions League delay as Spurs send European rivals powerful message

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Tom Collomosse1 November 2017

Tottenham delivered one of the finest victories in the club's history as Dele Alli scored twice in a 3-1 demolition of Real Madrid.

Spurs sealed qualification for the Champions League knockout stages in the most dramatic style, with two goals from Alli and one from Christian Eriksen ensuring a memorable night at Wembley.

The home fans were even cheering their side's every pass with 20 minutes left as Mauricio Pochettino's men threatened to humiliate their star-studded opponents, before Cristiano Ronaldo added a late consolation.

Victory means Tottenham move top of Group H on 10 points, three ahead of their Spanish opponents with two games remaining.

Tom Collomosse assesses the key talking points at Wembley...

Bench strength shows Madrid vulnerability

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Who would have believed that Tottenham could have a stronger bench than Real Madrid, who have won the Champions League in three of the last four seasons?

With only Victor Wanyama and Erik Lamela unavailable, Tottenham’s bench was packed with quality and experience – Danny Rose, Heung-min Son, Fernando Llorente, Mousa Dembele and Serge Aurier were all among the substitutes, with Moussa Sissoko replacing the injured Toby Alderweireld in the first half.

By contrast, Madrid, who are without first-teamers Keylor Navas, Dani Carvajal, Gareth Bale and Raphael Varane, named a group of very promising Spanish players, all of whom are still making their way in senior football. It left Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane with few options when his team were struggling.

Tottenham break Madrid duck

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Before this match, Tottenham had failed to beat Real Madrid in European competition, and no Spurs player had scored against the European champions.

In the 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu two weeks ago, Varane’s own-goal put the visitors ahead. Tottenham buried both records in emphatic fashion with one of the best results and performances in their modern history.

Madrid looked tired, unwilling and imprecise at Wembley - everything Spurs were not. Madrid knew they would fly back to Spain to some ferocious headlines, while Zidane is sure to come under pressure at a club that rarely shows patience with coaches.

Yet for Mauricio Pochettino, his players and the Spurs fans, this was a night for celebration. It guaranteed their place in the last 16 and sent a powerful signal to the rest of Europe.

England’s message to Spain

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Is the tide turning in European football? Since Manchester United won the Champions League in 2008, Barcelona and Real Madrid have shared six of the next nine titles, with Chelsea’s win in 2012 the sole blow for England’s top flight.

Yet if Tottenham – playing only the third Champions League campaign in their history – can Madrid, it suggests Spain’s supremacy might not last much longer.

This result booked Tottenham’s place in the last 16 and there is a strong chance England’s other four representatives will join them.

The Premier League’s financial might is starting to tell and with both Bayern Munich and Juventus struggling to find the form of previous seasons, English clubs will believe they can rule Europe again.

Alli shows his class

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Dele Alli has been waiting for this moment all season. Banned for the first three matches of this season’s Champions League for his sending off in the Europa League defeat by Gent last season, Alli had to watch while his team-mates thrived, taking seven points from their opening three games.

He made up for it here, benefiting from the space he was given by Madrid to deliver a magnificent display. For some reason, Madrid did not bother to mark Alli closely and he took full advantage, steering in Kieran Trippier’s low cross in the first half and then rounding the woeful Casemiro to score a deflected second early in the second half.

Alli then had a significant hand in the third goal, scored by Christian Eriksen, and should have completed his head trick when he headed Trippier’s cross wide from point-blank range. To give him his due, it was probably the only mistake he made all night.