Graeme Souness knows what it takes to triumph on the biggest stage. The Scot won the European Cup three times with Liverpool in the 1970s and 80s and believes Tottenham are wise enough to handle what Real Madrid will throw at them, providing Mauricio Pochettino uses the right system.
With Ben Davies absent and Danny Rose unlikely to be rushed back into the starting XI after 10 months out with a knee injury, there is an issue on the left side of defence.
One option for Pochettino is to go with the 4-2-3-1 formation he used during his first two seasons in charge and play Jan Vertonghen at left-back.
Another possibility is to use the back three he has tended to prefer this season and play Heung-min Son as a wing-back.
Spurs have looked more comfortable in that system, but Pochettino went for Vertonghen on the left of a back four against Bournemouth on Saturday.
And Souness, who started his career at Tottenham, believes that is the smarter option tonight.
“I would think he [Pochettino] will go with a more defensive head on,” he said. “Be solid to begin with, do not go behind early and allow them to get their tails up, and make adjustments as the game pans out.
“It might not be where Vertonghen wants to play, but I would rather that than play a would-be striker as a wing-back, which is not an ideal situation going to the Bernabeu. Vertonghen is a very solid operator. He is left footed and I think that would be an obvious one. He could drop in Davinson Sanchez and Toby Alderweireld in the middle.
“Go there, have a look and see what Real Madrid throw at them. Tottenham are wise enough now to do that. Real are, arguably, the best counter attacking team in the world with the pace they have, but I think Tottenham can get a result.”
Vertonghen is available again after missing last month’s 3-0 win against Apoel Nicosia through suspension. He will return to a Spurs defence that will have to stop Cristiano Ronaldo, who has led Real Madrid to the Champions League in three of the past four years and has scored twice in both of their group stage matches so far this season.
Read More
Souness said: “Ronaldo has proved over the last decade that he is unstoppable. Whatever obstacles you have in front of him, he can find a solution. It is not the same Ronaldo we have seen. He plays the width of the box and he is a real threat.
In Pictures | Tottenham vs Bournemouth | 14/10/2017
“Stopping him has proved impossible for all the top defenders in the last decade. You just hope he has a quiet night and your players have a really good night.”
But Souness believes Tottenham can get a result in the Spanish capital and feels they may be catching Real at a good time. The defending champions have made a slow start to the season in La Liga under Zinedine Zidane and Souness said: “This Tottenham team should fear no one.
“It is a difficult game, but it might be a good time to play Real Madrid. Having said that, in their last game, against Dortmund, they were very impressive, so many say they are saving their best for the Champions League. Dortmund were a bit naive, played gung-ho football and Real Madrid picked them off.
“Tottenham are capable of taking on anyone in a game of football. The holding midfield players have to protect the back four. Going there and getting a draw is a good result.
“I think it is tailor-made for Tottenham. On the front foot, they are as good as anyone and can get goals against anyone.”
Graeme Souness is supporting Stoptober, the 28-day stop smoking challenge that started on October 1. If you quit for 28 days, you are five times more likely to quit for good. Visit nhs.uk/oneyou/stoptober