In Photos: Tottenham’s Exhilarating Debut Champions League Campaign

Chris Wright

14th, April 2011

3 Comments

By Chris Wright

Tottenham’s maiden Champions League campaign began against a group of swarthy Young Boys way back in August of last year and after 12 games, 25 goals scored, 19 conceded, several records broken and some truly exhilarating displays, it all sadly came to an abrupt end over two legs against Real Madrid – culminating in last night’s 0-1 home defeat.

As a nod to Spurs’ fine achievements on the European front this season, Pies have put together an exhaustive compendium of some of the best statics that have been filed along the way.

Why? Because your first time’s meant to be special…

The Young Boys supporters unfurl a huge banner depicting their side ‘schooling’ a classroom full of the Champions League’s leading lights before their first leg qualifier against Tottenham

Young Boys supporters set off flares behind Heurelho Gomes’ goal

Young Boys’ Senad Lulic is mobbed by his teammates after scoring the opening goal of the first leg – which eventually ended 3-2 in the Swiss side’s favour

Tottenham fans greet Young Boys with a sea of flitting flags before the return leg at White Hart Lane

Peter Crouch extends a spindly leg to steer the ball away from Senad Lulic

Peter Crouch completes his hat-trick from the spot as Tottenham thrash Young Boys 4-0 at home and advance through to the group stages of the competition with a 6-3 aggregate victory

Peter Crouch is mobbed after putting Tottenham 2-0 ahead in their first group stage game with Werder Bremen

Bremen’s Marko Marin wheels away after drawing his side level just after half-time

Peter Crouch rues a missed chance as the game finishes 2-2

Roman Pavlyuchenko celebrates scoring his second penalty of the night against FC Twente at White Hart Lane

Rafael van der Vaart agonises over a missed chance

Gareth Bale celebrates after scoring Tottenham’s fourth and final goal of the game as Spurs run out 4-1 winners

Harry Redknapp looks on as Gareth Bale begins Tottenham’s fight-back from 4-0 down against Inter Milan in the Giuseppe Meazza

Gareth Bale drives home his third goal of the evening in injury time to bring Tottenham back to within a goal of Inter just before the final whistle…

…before leaving the pitch with the match-ball in hand

Rafael van der Vaart celebrates ecstatically after opening the scoring against Inter Milan in the ‘return leg’ at White Hart Lane

Roman Pavlyuchenko steals in to nab a third for Tottenham and thus complete the scoring for the night

A view of the final score on the big screen at White Hart Lane after the final whistle of the second group game against Inter Milan – an amazing scoreline (and performance) that will live long in the memory

Younes Kaboul rattles home Tottenham’s first goal of the game in their home tie against Werder Bremen

Gareth Bale lets one fly against Bremen

Luca Modric slashes home Tottenham’s second goal of the game before Peter Crouch added a third, unanswered goal ten minutes from time

Tottenham go in front by virtue of a bizarre Peter Wisgerhof/Sander Boschker own-goal during their final group stage game against Twente

Jermain Defoe celebrates scoring his first of the evening against FC Twente

Jermain Defoe celebrates after scoring his second and Tottenham’s third goal in their 3-3 draw with FC Twente in Enschede – the result meant that Spurs became the first side in history to score two or more goals in every single one of the Champions League group games.

Joe Jordan and Gennaro Gattuso clash during Tottenham’s return to Milan, this time against AC Milan in the first leg of the second-round

Peter Crouch rolls home the deciding goal

Gennaro Gattuso continues to get up everybody’s noses until well after the final whistle in the San Siro

Sandro, who (for my money at least) put in his best performance in a Spurs shirt to date during the second leg against Milan, keeps Robinho in check at White Hart Lane

William Gallas clears a Robinho shot off the goal-line

After forcing a goalless stalemate against Milan at home, Gareth Bale celebrates Tottenham’s narrow progression through to the quarter-finals by offering the match-ball to the crowd

Scarves on sale outside the Bernabeu before Tottenham’s quarter-final first-leg with Real Madrid


Tottenham and Real Madrid line up before kick-off

Peter Crouch is sent off after picking up a second yellow card after quarter of an hour

The Bernabeu scoreboard at full-time

If you’re a glutton for punishment, then there are also photos from Spurs’ second-leg game against Real Madrid to leaf through here.

All photos courtesy of the PA.

Posted in Featured, Photos, Tottenham Hotspur

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3 Comments

  1. Jordon says:

    Fantastic montage of photos. My personal favorite moment of Spurs’ campaign was Bale’s performances against Inter. I’ve watched the animated video of Bale on Pies many times and I’m sure it’s a performance that will live long in the memory of all football fans.

  2. Chris says:

    @Jordon: Thanks mate, glad you enjoyed it.

  3. Liam E says:

    Was in Tenerife in august watching spurs loose 3-0 to Young Boys. And to think we managed to get 2 back, and make our way to Real Madrid in the quaters. Cracking run lads. Nice montage.

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