Real Madrid Vs. Tottenham Hotspur, 2011 UEFA Champions League: Rafael Van Der Vaart Booked For Dissent

It’s been a nightmare start for Tottenham and things aren’t really getting any better for the visitors. Real Madrid are totally in charge, looking threatening on every attack and making than extra man count. Rafael van der Vaart is losing what little cool he had - the Dutch attacker is the latest to go in referee Felix Brych’s little book for dissent after complaining fairly loudly about a Sandro foul. Gomes has had a few saves to make, but apart from the Adebayor goal hasn’t been overly taxed.

Tottenham do now have a shot on target, incidentally, but it was a 40-yard central effort from van der Vaart that commentator Ray Wilkins rather accurately described as disrespectful to goalkeeper Iker Casillas. It’s really not looking very promising for Harry Redknapp’s side, whose European dream may be falling apart at the Santiago Bernabeu. However, they’ve come back from worse starts - a 4-3 game against Inter Milan at the San Siro springs to mind...