Real Madrid take huge step
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Former Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor was the star of the night as Real Madrid defeated Tottenham Hotspurs 4-0 in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.
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| Former Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor was the star of the night. [Sina] |
Real Madrid took advantage of the fact that Tottenham had to play for 75 minutes with a player less after Peter Crouch was sent off for the visitors after just 15 minutes.
The sides also had differing luck before the match while Cristiano Ronaldo and Marcelo were both pronounced fit to play for Madrid. Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon pulled up with a muscle problem in the warm-up and had to be replaced by midfielder Jermaine Jenas.
Lennon's loss robbed the English side of pace on the break and Tottenham were clearly shaken in the opening minutes as Madrid looked to dominate.
Angel De Maria saw a shot deflected wide after five minutes and from the resulting corner Emmanuel Adebayor headed home with the ball passing through the legs of Luka Modric on the Tottenham goal- line.
Tottenham were down to 10 men after just 15 minutes after striker Peter Crouch was shown a second yellow card for a challenge on Marcelo. The Madrid player then produced an ugly gesture when he celebrated the fact that he had received a late challenge.
With a player less Tottenham dedicated themselves to re- organizing and taking few risks against Madrid's continued pressure and although the English side saw Gareth Bale shoot side when well placed, they will have been pleased to have reached half- time just a goal down.
That changed in the second half as Madrid laid siege to the Tottenham goal, although they were slow to move the ball in the first 10 minutes of the period and it was not until the 59th minute that the Spaniards doubled their lead.
Once again Adebayor was the scorer with a well placed header from a Marcelo cross. Tottenham were missing Crouch, who gives the side the chance to play long passes out of defense and they were unable to retain possession.
De Maria made it 3-0 with a great shot from the corner of the area and Ronaldo rounded off the night with a volley two minutes from time.
