Alas, Champions League football is about to return to White Hart Lane after a six year gap.
With that in mind, lets delve back into the Champions League archives were we find the Lilywhites, managed by the van-man favourite Harry Redknapp, overturn the might(ish) Inter Milan to claim a famous victory.
Having gained their place on Europe’s most prestigious stage via a dramatic Peter Crouch header the season before, White Hart Lane was yet again afforded the famous “Glory Glory” nights in north London.
After dispensing of Swiss side Young Boys at the preliminary stages, Spurs claimed a respectable draw away to a decent Werder Bremen side, as well as a convincing 4-1 home win to Steve McClaren’s FC Twente.
A humbling 4-3 defeat to Inter Milan at the San Siro followed. However whilst the Serie A giants had gained a comfortable 4-0 advantage with just 35 minutes played, Rafa Benitiez’s side had very much taken their eyes off a gangly left back-come winger Gareth Bale.
Thinking the game had been won, The Welsh wizard proceeded to dismantle Inter’s back line with devastating pace and guile, in the process seemingly giving Brazilian superstar right back Maicon an aneurism. With a minute played of injury time, Bale had scored a hat-trick.
Whilst The Milan side did hold on, much work had to be done to quiet the young Tottenham upstart for the return White Hart Lane fixture.
Bemusingly, they clearly didn’t bother.
The future Real Madrid superstar proceeded to terrorise the Italian’s pitch wide, making for a miserable return to England for former Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez.
Yet again Maicon was reduced to a sorry rubble as Spurs went on to claim a valuable 3-1 victory, with goals coming from Rafael van der Vaart, Peter Crouch and, with the atmosphere nervy following a Eto’o consolation, a late Roman Pavlyuchenko effort.
The final whistle drew to raucous applause from the home contingent. The win set up the North Londoners for qualification to the next round. Another win against the ‘other’ Milan side followed culminating in respectable quarter final exit to a Ronaldo led Real Madrid.
As Champions League debuts go, Spurs didn’t half have a crack at it.
Here’s the best of the action.
