Real Madrid vs Tottenham Hotspur. UEFA Champions League Group H.
Santiago BernabeuAttendance76,589.
Wednesday 18 October 2017 08:03, UK
Hugo Lloris' stunning saves helped Tottenham claim a 1-1 Champions League draw at Real Madrid, for whom Keylor Navas also impressed.
Mauricio Pochettino looked to have got his game-plan spot on against the holders at the Bernabeu as Serge Aurier's cross was turned into his own net by Raphael Varane (27), but Cristiano Ronaldo equalised from the spot (43) after a needless foul from Aurier.
Both teams could have won it, but were indebted to their goalkeepers Lloris and Navas who starred with some important saves.
The teams meet again in Group H in a fortnight's time at Wembley, and both look odds-on to qualify having taken seven points from their first three games.
Madrid almost took the lead after five minutes when Ronaldo's header struck the post and Karim Benzema fired the rebound wide.
Tottenham's first chance fell to Harry Kane but the England striker's header was tipped over the bar by goalkeeper Navas.
Pochettino's side stunned Real with the opening goal in the 27th minute when Varane turned Aurier's cross into his own net.
But Madrid were awarded a penalty three minutes before half-time when a rash Aurier tackle took down Toni Kroos and Ronaldo converted the spot-kick.
Spurs almost conceded a second shortly after the break but goalkeeper Lloris brilliantly saved Benzema's header with his right leg.
The French shot-stopper thwarted Madrid again after tipping Ronaldo's fierce half-volley over the bar.
Kane almost fired Tottenham back into the lead on the counter-attack but Navas pushed his low shot round the post.
Fernando Llorente flicked the ball to Christian Eriksen but the midfielder's effort was kept out again by Navas as Spurs finished strongly during the entertaining draw.
The goalkeeper put in a true captain's knock. During a period of pressure from the hosts after the break, the Frenchman made two world-class saves to deny Benzema and then Ronaldo.
Spurs are next in action on Super Sunday for a mouth-watering encounter with Liverpool at Wembley, while Real Madrid are also in action on Sunday, live on Sky Sports Football, as they are set to play Eibar.
