Spurs are making their way back to the Premier club competition of Europe UEFA Champions League after six long years and will be hosting French giants AS Monaco on Wednesday night at the Wembley. Spurs had played in the main rounds of the competitions only once that was back in the 2010-11 season and went on to the quarter-finals where they were knocked out by mighty Real Madrid.
Here are three games Spurs fans will remember fondly from that campaign.
Inter 4-3 Spurs
Even though Spurs lost the game, this game will be fondly remembered by the Spurs fans. This was the game where Gareth Bale showed the world what he could do. Still in the process of becoming a world-class wide forward from a left-back, Bale stole the headlines despite Spurs losing 4-3. Inter led 4-0 in the 35th minute thanks to goals from Javier Zanetti, Dejan Stankovic and a brace from Samuel Eto’o.
Who would have thought that a Gareth Bale show is on the cards in the second half! 10 men Spurs after the sending off of goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes stood no chance on paper but Bale almost produced a sensational comeback on his own. The wing wizard scored in the 52nd minute and added two more goals in the 90th and 91st minute but it was too late for a comeback. Despite a defeat, this game has to feature on this list.
Spurs 3-1 Inter
Bale definitely loves to fire against Inter Milan as the Welshman produced yet another masterclass performance against the Champions League holders in their home game. Even though the young winger did not find the net himself but he ran the show and tortured Brazilian full-back Maicon on the left flank. Rafael van der Vaart, Peter Crouch and Roman Pavlyuchenko were on the scoresheet for the Lilywhites and Eto’o scored the solitary goal for Inter.
Gareth Bale, a superstar in the making, made his name at the global stage with a stunning display and this win helped Spurs to make it to the round of 16 and later the quarter-finals.
AC Milan 0-1 Spurs
After two games against Inter, Spurs were drawn against Inter’s biggest rivals, 7-time Champions League winners AC Milan in the round of 16 and won the first leg of the tie at San Siro with a 1-0 scoreline. Peter Crouch scored the solitary Spurs goal but the headlines were stolen by AC Milan’s combative midfielder Gennaro Gattuso as he headbutted Tottenham assistant manager Joe Jordan after the final whistle.
Spurs held the Rossoneri to a 0-0 draw in the return leg and made their way to the quarter-finals. It was a brilliant run for the Lilywhites in their first ever Champions League campaign but the Spurs fans will be hoping for an even better one this time around.
