Real Madrid Vs. Tottenham Hotspur, 2011 UEFA Champions League: Ricardo Carvalho Prevents Gareth Bale Chance

Tottenham nearly managed an instant response to the second goal scored by Emmanuel Adebayor this evening and it was the blazingly fast figure of Gareth Bale who nearly gave the visitors a route back into the match. Bale was released by a long ball over the top, but rather than take the chance first time like he should have, the winger controlled, giving Ricardo Carvalho just enough time to make a desperate sliding tackle to send the ball to the safety of the stands.

Jose Mourinho has made his first switch of the match now, switching out German midfielder Sami Khedira for workhouse Lassana Diarra. Presumably Khedira is simply being rested with the game won - he’s worked very hard in pressing Tottenham’s centre all match. Diarra will probably do exactly the same, and his fresh legs will make the substitute even more effective at it than the man he replaced.