Mohammadi News Agency News – Features – Photo
MNA Sports Desk: Brilliant Tottenham Hotspur took Real Madrid apart in a 3-1 win over the reigning champions on Wednesday as they clinched their place in the Champions League last 16 along with Manchester City.
Dele Alli starred with a brace for Tottenham with Christian Eriksen also scoring before Cristiano Ronaldo’s late consolation.
The result ensured that Mauricio Pochettino’s side are through from Group H with two games to spare, while Real will have to wait to join them.
Tottenham profited from an officiating error to go in front on 27 minutes as Kieran Trippier should have been flagged offside before he crossed for Alli to score.
Alli netted again on 56 minutes when his shot beat Kiko Casilla with the aid of a deflection off Sergio Ramos.
Eriksen made it 3-0 at the end of a counter-attack on 65 minutes, before Real reduced the deficit late on as Ronaldo scored his sixth goal in the competition this season.
This was Real’s first group-stage defeat in five years and, following a shock La Liga loss at Girona at the weekend, the pressure is building on coach Zinedine Zidane.
Nevertheless, a win at APOEL later this month will do for the 12-time champions to qualify after the Cypriot side held Borussia Dortmund 1-1 in Germany.
Raphael Guerreiro gave Dortmund a first-half lead but they are still looking for a win in Europe this season after Mickael Pote levelled for APOEL on 51 minutes.
