Kane strike takes us into final of Audi Cup
Real Madrid 0-1 Spurs
Tue 30 July 2019, 18:54|Tottenham Hotspur
Harry Kane's clinical strike secured a deserved win against Real Madrid in Munich on Tuesday evening and a place in the final of the Audi Cup.
We will now face hosts Bayern Munich in the final on Wednesday (7.30pm UK).
Kane struck in the 22nd minute, capitalising on a mistake by Marcelo before a textbook, composed one-on-one finish past Keylor Navas.
It could have been more at the Allianz Arena. Navas denied Kane, Tanguy Ndombele, Dele and Heung-Min Son and youngster Troy Parrott hit the inside of the post.
Juan Foyth, Christian Eriksen and Danny Rose made their first starts in pre-season as we recovered from an early chance for Real Madrid - Paulo Gazzaniga out sharply to save from Karim Benzema inside a minute - to take control.
Raphael Varane almost diverted Rose's cross into his own net - Navas rescued that situation - Erik Lamela had an effort cleared off the line and Navas tipped over a rasper from Ndombele before we took the lead on 22 minutes.
Having created chances through our high press and slick attacking play, the goal came from a Real Madrid mistake. Eden Hazard's pass had Marcelo scrambling on the right touchline and his attempt to keep the ball in only resulted in playing a pass into Kane's path. The striker made no mistake, taking the ball in his stride before clipping past the advancing Navas.
Benzema had a couple of half-chances before Kane looked to have stroked Lamela's fine pass into the corner only for Navas to divert wide. Benzema whistled a 20-yarder just over to give us a reminder before the break.
We started very well, we were 1-0 up at half-time and the manager decided to change a few players, then the players who came on added something on the pitch so that was good...
Mauricio Pochettino made nine changes for the second half with Son and Kane remaining. Hugo Lloris and Davinson Sanchez made their first appearances of pre-season, the skipper back from a bout of tonsillitis.
Real stayed with the same 11 and Marcelo struck an early shot at Lloris from 25 yards. Hazard had their best chance 10 yards out on 57 minutes but Japhet Tanganga blocked superbly.
We took control again and for the next 10 minutes, peppered the Madrid goal. Navas tipped over from Son and then kept out Dele's volley from Lucas Moura's pass with a reflex save to his left. Moussa Sissoko tried his luck and Dele bore down on Navas again only for Carvajal to get back.
Rodrygo had the ball in the net for Real on 75 minutes - the goal ruled out for offside - before lively substitute Kubo fired at Lloris and then sliced wide. The final action of note was almost a moment to remember for Parrott - played in by GK Nkoudou, the young striker fired across Navas only to see his effort hit the inside of the post.
Mauricio's reaction
Speaking afterwards at the Allianz Arena, Mauricio told us: "I am so happy, I think the performance was very good, we played well against Real Madrid - that is never easy - so yes, a lot of positive things. From the beginning of pre-season the group has been fantastic.
"It was a very professional performance. After the trip to Shanghai and Singapore it was difficult to recover but I think we were very good. Of course, yes, you need to see the value of that victory and now to be ready for tomorrow is going to be difficult too but I'm happy because that (result) is to build our mentality and our belief. I think we are going to mix tomorrow again, it's a good opportunity to be strong."
Reaction on Spurs TV
Real Madrid 0-1 Spurs
Spurs: First half - Gazzaniga, Foyth, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose, Winks, Ndombele, Lamela, Eriksen, Son, Kane (c). Second half - Lloris, Walker-Peters, Sanchez, Tanganga, Georgiou, Skipp, Sissoko, Son (Nkoudou 66), Dele, Lucas, Kane (Parrott 66).
Real Madrid: Navas, Carvajal (Odriozola 80), Ramos (c), Varane (Nacho 65), Kroos (Vinicius 65), Benzema (Diaz 80), Modric (Seoane 80) Marcelo (Delafuente 80), Lucas Vazquez (Valverde 65), Rodrygo (Kubo 80), Hazard (Isco 80).
Match data
Goal: Spurs - Kane 22,
Yellow cards: Real Madrid - Ramos 64; Spurs - Georgiou 54.
Referee: Tobias Stieler.
Venue: Allianz Arena, Munich.
Weather: Warm, 26 degrees at kick-off.