With the Monaco game now just one day away, time to take a look back at our last (and only) Champions League adventure in 2010/11.
When we were drawn in a group including Werder Bremen and Champions League holders Inter Milan - not to mention potentially tricky opponents in the form of Dutch champions FC Twente - we weren't given much of a chance by anybody.
Here goes:
Werder Bremen 2-2 Spurs
A very tough start to kick off our debut appearance in the Champions League. Difficult opponents, a hostile stadium, the trickiness of Marko Marin and Hugo Almeida to contend with - but we looked past all that and raced into a 2-0 lead inside 18 minutes. Bale raced down the left and put in a vicious cross that Petri Pasanen turned into his own net, before Crouch added a second with a thumping header to leave us in dreamland.
We looked very comfortable for the rest of the half, only for Hugo Almeida to pull one back just before the break. Then the mercurial Marin levelled just after half-time. After that, the sea of Bremen pressure came but we never crumbled or wilted and claimed a fully deserved point.
Spurs 4-1 FC Twente
It got even better in our first home game, on a rain-sodden September night. We were all over Twente from the start. Crouch won a pen, VDV missed it, but soon atoned for that error a few minutes after the break. The Crouch-VDV combo, so effective that season, saw VDV bury the ball home with signature aplomb. We were 2-0 up a few moments later. A second pen was given, this time Super Pav stepped up to score with ease.
Six minutes later we were pegged back, a certain Nacer Chadli tapping in for Twente. Not long after VDV was dismissed for a second bookable offence. This didn't deter us, though, as we kept attacking the Dutch side with pace and verve. Another penalty was won, put away nonchalantly by Pav. Bale then put the icing on the cake with a cool late 4th.
Inter 4-3 Spurs
The Champions League holders, at the San Siro. It doesn't get much bigger. Most were expecting us to receive a tonking. And for the first 40 minutes that's what we got. We were overawed, overrun, out-thought and outplayed - completely. 1-0 down after just two minutes thanks to Zanetti, then Gomes decided to have one of his Calamity James moments, conceding a penalty and getting himself sent off after just 10 minutes. Eto'o buried the pen.
Stankovic scored a third after 14 minutes and an absolute shellacking seemed to be on the cards. A painful, humiliating defeat. Eto'o added to the pain to make it 4-0 ten minutes before HT.
Incredibly, though, we bounced back in the second half and very nearly snatched a draw. Cudicini kept us in it at one end, while Bale went about destroying the Inter defence with one of the best hattricks you'll ever see. A goal after 52 minutes gave some hope, another one after 90 minutes seemed to be mere consolation, then another one literally seconds after suggested an improbable draw. But we ran out of time. Still, the performance put in by the 10 men in the second half was quite superb. A wonderful loss if ever there was one.
Spurs 3-1 Inter
One of the best games in recent times, arguably ever. From first minute to last we were absolutely determined to avenge the defeat in the San Siro. VDV scored a brilliant opener after great work by Modric. Then came the time for Bale to run Maicon ragged - a quite brilliant display of pace, power, ball control, crossing and technique that suggested we had a world-class superstar on our hands. He brilliantly set up Crouch and Pav for tap-ins as he tore the Inter right-back to shreds time after time. One of the most memorable European nights at the Lane. Ever.
Spurs 3-0 Werder Bremen
A surprisingly comfortable win that booked our spot in the last 16. Lennon set up Kaboul for a well-placed volley early on, Modric scored a lovely second on the stroke of half-time and Crouch made the result certain on 79 minutes after more great work from Lennon.
Twente 3-3 Spurs
An entertaining, topsy-turvy draw. Three times we went ahead, three times we were pegged back. Thrilling, pulsating, end-to-end game, which meant we topped the group.
AC Milan v Spurs
Not a vintage AC Milan side, but still a very good one. A second trip to the San Siro brought an even better result. We defended superbly and looked a threat on the break throughout. Late on Modric sent Lennon haring away on the break. He got free of the Inter defence. Crouch was free and waiting in the box. Lennon squared the ball and Crouch squeezed it in. Elation. In the second leg at the Lane we put in a very solid performance to secure a 0-0 draw. Quarter finals! What was going on?
All went wrong against Real Madrid, but that didn't tarnish a truly memorable Champions League run that had the neutrals on side and breathed new life into the competition. Anything close to that this time and we'll be laughing.
Champions League, we're having a ball
posted on 13/9/16
Schalke had a teally good run that season too I think, Raul and Huntelaar up top.
It was a memorable campaign, although by the time we played Madrid we were struggling - Hudd was injured, Bale was carrying a knock, Lennon ill and Crouch sent off. Not what you need!!
Still, scoring a whopping 24 goals in 8 games up until the KO stage was amazing. Never scored less than 2.
2, 4, 2, 4, 3, 3, 3, 3
posted on 13/9/16
comment by Hod idol the x factor - Mo's posh tin set... (U5117)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by Busby (U19985)
posted 19 minutes ago
"Inter 4-3 Spurs"
It's easy to forget you lose that game, considering all that people remember is Bale's incredible performance.
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Another 5 minutes and Bale would have scored another.
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The ref actually blew up too soon, when were on the attack I seem to recall. They were all over the gaffe, 5 more minutes and I reckon we would have won it let alone drew
posted on 13/9/16
I was actually quite confident with that group. Thought that runners-up was a distinct possibility, how wrong was I?!
Milan were a faded force by then, wasn't dissmissing them but they'd been on the wane since 2008 so once again I was reasonably confident we could be competitive.
Q/F was a shambles, but thankfully Real Madrid got what was coming to them in the semi finals, Boringho blaming unicef for their loss to Barca
posted on 13/9/16
I think that real Madrid away is the most wound up I have ever been watching spurs.
that idiot crouch sliding around on his backside like he was in cool runnings. what the absolute fack was he doing.
and it wasn't just that. lennon was ill so couldn't play.. so instead of just putting jenas out there.. he reshuffled the whole midfield just before ko, with jenas going in the centre and I think modric going out there.
absolute clown move. then he blamed lennon and lennon wasn't happy and that was really the beginning of the end for azza in my opinion.
I queued up overnight from 4pm to about 9 30am the next morning outside the ticket office for tickets to the return leg, and we lost the first leg 4-0 making it absolute pointless.
worse still, had redknapp not had his brain fart, and crouch not been a belllllend I think we could have given real Madrid a serious game over two legs that season.
I have never seen crouch make a sliding tackle in his life, and the idiot made two in about 10 mins, two yellows and he was sent.
posted on 13/9/16
nice one lane....was a great run.
posted on 13/9/16
yeah crouch in that Madrid game.....
posted on 13/9/16
I preferred the semi final of the European Cup that Spurs contested with Benfica. The equivalent competition of the modern CL.
posted on 13/9/16
comment by Chronic (U3423)
posted 40 minutes ago
I think that real Madrid away is the most wound up I have ever been watching spurs.
that idiot crouch sliding around on his backside like he was in cool runnings. what the absolute fack was he doing.
and it wasn't just that. lennon was ill so couldn't play.. so instead of just putting jenas out there.. he reshuffled the whole midfield just before ko, with jenas going in the centre and I think modric going out there.
absolute clown move. then he blamed lennon and lennon wasn't happy and that was really the beginning of the end for azza in my opinion.
I queued up overnight from 4pm to about 9 30am the next morning outside the ticket office for tickets to the return leg, and we lost the first leg 4-0 making it absolute pointless.
worse still, had redknapp not had his brain fart, and crouch not been a belllllend I think we could have given real Madrid a serious game over two legs that season.
I have never seen crouch make a sliding tackle in his life, and the idiot made two in about 10 mins, two yellows and he was sent.
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Madness from Crouch wasn't it. I was in Florida watching the game and it ruined my day! They were both such bad tackles, you couldn't even moan at the ref. He just went flying in so late!
posted on 13/9/16
crouch totally wound me up that day
posted on 13/9/16
Sandy..........................................You mean the one with the very IFFY referee???