Real Madrid set up a Champions League semi-final date with Clasico rivals Barcelona, professionally seeing off the challenge of Tottenham Hotspur by defeating the English side 1-0 on the night, completing a comfortable 5-0 aggregate success.
Cristiano Ronaldo sealed Spurs’ fate soon after the game restarted following a goalless first half. Taking aim from 25 yards, the Portuguese hit a sweet shot goal-wards that was horribly fumbled into the net by Heurelho Gomes, leaving his side requiring six to go through.
If a comeback was to be made possible, the hosts appreciated that they would need to make ground back in the first half, but despite a largely up-tempo and positive period from the London club, they failed to make any headway into the nine-time champions’ advantage.
Wingers Aaron Lennon and Gareth Bale offered the main sources of optimism for the Premier League team as an attacking threat, with the Welshman’s low drive on five minutes forcing Iker Casillas into a smart save low to his left. From the rebound, Luka Modric gathered the ball and hit the turf under a clumsy challenge, optimistically claiming for a penalty, but it would be Roman Pavlyuchenko’s failed appeal later in the period that gave the home side most cause for frustration.
Moments before the Russian was denied a spot kick, he only had himself to blame for failing to open the scoring as he lofted a shot well over from the edge of the box, rendering Lennon’s burst down the right wasted.
In general, Jose Mourinho’s side were containing their hosts well, preventing any regular danger to their goalkeeper. Tom Huddlestone squeezed a shot from a tight angle wide of the near post before the break, and Pavlyuchenko would draw a block from Casillas, but the Spaniards rarely looked like buckling.
Indeed, they had started the match in good form themselves, creating the best chance after three minutes, only for Ozil to side-foot tamely at Gomes.
Ten minutes before the interval, the Brazilian goalkeeper was stretched to a much greater degree, using every inch of his not inconsiderable frame to touch away a header from Sergio Ramos that appeared to be looping into the net. Emmanuel Adebayor was quickest onto the rebound, but the difficult follow-up was shot wide.
There was an air of satisfaction from Spurs at half-time, but the crowd were certainly quietened by Ronaldo’s strike some four minutes after the restart.
A measure of pride could have been restored just before the hour mark, though Pavlyuchenko’s header was a foot too high, with Casillas appearing to have the effort covered in any case.
Much of the first half’s intensity was lost with the opening goal, but chances remained frequent – at least initially. Substitute Jermain Defoe struck a stinging shot from 25 yards that Casillas got a strong wrist to parry clear, and Spain’s No.1 would later get across his goal well to deny William Gallas at the back post.
Four minutes from time, Rafael van der Vaart, who cut a quiet figure for much of this game, found space at the corner of the box but bent his shot too high.
At the other end of the field, Gomes nearly allowed a curling effort from Kaka to sneak under his hand and into the net. Thankfully for the shot-stopper, an already forgettable night wouldn’t get any worse as he got just enough on his countryman’s attempt to divert it wide.
A second goal would have flattered the Primera Division side on an evening in which they were never seriously pushed. Though there will undoubtedly be joy in the Spanish capital over their side’s progress to the semi-finals, the real test awaits in the semi-finals against fierce rivals Barca, whom they will soon meet four times in less than three weeks.
If the Catalans are overcome in Europe, Mourinho’s side will be hot favorites to finally lift their 10th European crown.
Cristiano Ronaldo sealed Spurs’ fate soon after the game restarted following a goalless first half. Taking aim from 25 yards, the Portuguese hit a sweet shot goal-wards that was horribly fumbled into the net by Heurelho Gomes, leaving his side requiring six to go through.
If a comeback was to be made possible, the hosts appreciated that they would need to make ground back in the first half, but despite a largely up-tempo and positive period from the London club, they failed to make any headway into the nine-time champions’ advantage.
Wingers Aaron Lennon and Gareth Bale offered the main sources of optimism for the Premier League team as an attacking threat, with the Welshman’s low drive on five minutes forcing Iker Casillas into a smart save low to his left. From the rebound, Luka Modric gathered the ball and hit the turf under a clumsy challenge, optimistically claiming for a penalty, but it would be Roman Pavlyuchenko’s failed appeal later in the period that gave the home side most cause for frustration.
Moments before the Russian was denied a spot kick, he only had himself to blame for failing to open the scoring as he lofted a shot well over from the edge of the box, rendering Lennon’s burst down the right wasted.
In general, Jose Mourinho’s side were containing their hosts well, preventing any regular danger to their goalkeeper. Tom Huddlestone squeezed a shot from a tight angle wide of the near post before the break, and Pavlyuchenko would draw a block from Casillas, but the Spaniards rarely looked like buckling.
Indeed, they had started the match in good form themselves, creating the best chance after three minutes, only for Ozil to side-foot tamely at Gomes.
Ten minutes before the interval, the Brazilian goalkeeper was stretched to a much greater degree, using every inch of his not inconsiderable frame to touch away a header from Sergio Ramos that appeared to be looping into the net. Emmanuel Adebayor was quickest onto the rebound, but the difficult follow-up was shot wide.
There was an air of satisfaction from Spurs at half-time, but the crowd were certainly quietened by Ronaldo’s strike some four minutes after the restart.
A measure of pride could have been restored just before the hour mark, though Pavlyuchenko’s header was a foot too high, with Casillas appearing to have the effort covered in any case.
Much of the first half’s intensity was lost with the opening goal, but chances remained frequent – at least initially. Substitute Jermain Defoe struck a stinging shot from 25 yards that Casillas got a strong wrist to parry clear, and Spain’s No.1 would later get across his goal well to deny William Gallas at the back post.
Four minutes from time, Rafael van der Vaart, who cut a quiet figure for much of this game, found space at the corner of the box but bent his shot too high.
At the other end of the field, Gomes nearly allowed a curling effort from Kaka to sneak under his hand and into the net. Thankfully for the shot-stopper, an already forgettable night wouldn’t get any worse as he got just enough on his countryman’s attempt to divert it wide.
A second goal would have flattered the Primera Division side on an evening in which they were never seriously pushed. Though there will undoubtedly be joy in the Spanish capital over their side’s progress to the semi-finals, the real test awaits in the semi-finals against fierce rivals Barca, whom they will soon meet four times in less than three weeks.
If the Catalans are overcome in Europe, Mourinho’s side will be hot favorites to finally lift their 10th European crown.
