Real Madrid v Tottenham

With Jose Mourinho indulging in his usual myriad of mind games none of us really know what players will be lining up for Real Madrid on Tuesday night. Ronaldo was ‘definitely’ out, now he’s a maybe, which probably suggests he’s actually almost certain to take to the field. But who really knows? Reports suggest that striker Benzema is legitimately out of contention while further doubts surround full-back Marcelo. For Tottenham, star man Gareth Bale is set to be unleashed after injury but how long will he last? Defender Gallas is yet another ‘50-50’ which all adds to a general sense of mystery ahead of the Champions League quarter final.

None of this helps tipping, but there are certain factors we can look at for predicting how this first leg may pan out. Madrid lost at the Bernabeu for the first time at the weekend, Mourinho’s first home reverse in a league game for nine years. Meanwhile in England, Spurs laboured to a 0-0 draw against bottom of the table Wigan, a third goalless match on the bounce. So neither team sparkled last time out, but I suspect none of this will remotely matter on Tuesday night. This has been billed as Tottenham’s biggest fixture in their history and so far they have raised their standards again and again in Europe’s premier club competition. They have accounted for both Milan sides already this season and I don’t foresee a meek surrendering in the Bernabeu to make the return leg irrelevant.

In a similar vein Real are desperate to win this competition after so many barren years of late. In Mourinho they have acquired a Champions League specialist who has lifted the trophy with Porto, and Inter Milan last year. Ronaldo playing would help his cause, but at the very least the Spanish side are likely to have the returning Argentinian striker Gonzalo Higuain to call upon. In other words, quality will not be lacking for the home side one way or another.

There is a general feeling that this will be a classic Champions League tie that will maintain interest levels well into the second leg at White Hart Lane. A 2-1 win for Madrid on Tuesday would certainly keep dreams alive for both sets of fans and this is what I’m backing at 8/1 with StanJames. Real should have the greater quality and win, but Spurs are more than capable of claiming a priceless away goal.