GARETH BALE RESUMED his torment of Inter Milan by scoring one goal and creating another as Tottenham Hotspur won 3-0 at White Hart Lane to place one foot in the Europa League quarter-finals.
Bale, who achieved global fame with a pair of devastating performances against Inter in the Champions League two seasons ago, netted an early opener to take his tally to 10 goals in eight games.
After Gylfi Sigurdsson made it 2-0, Bale set up Jan Vertonghen for Spurs’ third, although by then he had receiving a booking for diving that will prevent him from returning to San Siro, where he scored a famous hat-trick in 2010.
The game was a meeting of third in the Premier League and fourth in Serie A, but Andre Villas-Boas’ side showed their injury-depleted opponents no mercy to take a firm stranglehold on the last-16 tie, which concludes next week.
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Tottenham made just three changes to the side that beat North London rivals Arsenal on Sunday, while Inter recalled temperamental striker Antonio Cassano after he was dropped for a training ground row with coach Andrea Stramaccioni.
Flying start
Spurs’ fans were gloating over Arsenal as the game kicked off and they were given further reason to cheer in the sixth minute, as Bale planted a header inside the right-hand post from Sigurdsson’s cross to put the hosts ahead.
Jermain Defoe tested goalkeeper Samir Handanovic moments later after jinking inside his marker on the edge of the box, before Bale saw yellow for tumbling over Walter Gargano’s leg in the Inter box, ruling him out of the return.
The best Inter could muster was a shot from Mateo Kovacic that narrowly cleared the bar, but Spurs immediately went down the other end and made it 2-0, Sigurdsson bundling home when Handanovic saved from Defoe.
Spurs continued to press, Handanovic tipping over a looping header from Vertonghen, but Ricardo Alvarez spurned a fine chance to reply shortly before the interval, shooting wide when clean through on goal.
At half-time, Inter turned to Rodrigo Palacio, who scored two goals after coming off the bench in a 3-2 win at Catania at the weekend.
There were chances for both sides, Vertonghen volleying a Bale free-kick wide and Alvaro Pereira dragging a shot across goal at the other end, before the Belgian headed in Bale’s corner to put Spurs three goals up in the 52nd minute.
Bale and Defoe both threatened to add a fourth, while Handanovic had to throw himself at the feet of Aaron Lennon, who had stormed into the box from Scott Parker’s pass.
At the other end, Brad Friedel stood up well to deny Palacio, but the game was beyond the visitors and Bale was even able to indulge in a little showboating as the clock ran down.
Well I think their standing in the game was artificially boosted by the match fixing scandal of 06. They had the pick of the best players, and won leagues by default. Then the likes of Juve and Milan recovered. Mourinho leaving them didnt help either! But right now they are back where they were about 10 years ago!
Another yellow for diving – if it was a red Card for diving that’d stop most of them. But Bale’s diving takes the shine off all the good things he does. Such a shame.
Suarez dives and he is pilloried by all and sundry. Bale dives and its “what a great player”. As for a shoe in for PFA player of the year!!! A toss up between the two. Van Persie has gone off the boil the past few weeks.
That’s garbage.Suarez should get it for all the abuse he receives from other players,managers fans and tabloids,not to mention his all round play and the goals he’s scored
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What the hell has happened to Inter Milan. They are in a shambles.
Well I think their standing in the game was artificially boosted by the match fixing scandal of 06. They had the pick of the best players, and won leagues by default. Then the likes of Juve and Milan recovered. Mourinho leaving them didnt help either! But right now they are back where they were about 10 years ago!
Rafa Benitez.
Pathetic dive by Bale. 6th yellow card of the season for diving, disgraceful.
Another reason the guy should win PFA player of the year. He is quality regardless who the team are.
That award is for performances in English competitions.
Another yellow for diving – if it was a red Card for diving that’d stop most of them. But Bale’s diving takes the shine off all the good things he does. Such a shame.
Suarez dives and he is pilloried by all and sundry. Bale dives and its “what a great player”. As for a shoe in for PFA player of the year!!! A toss up between the two. Van Persie has gone off the boil the past few weeks.
That’s garbage.Suarez should get it for all the abuse he receives from other players,managers fans and tabloids,not to mention his all round play and the goals he’s scored
Yeah imagine how many goals Suarez would have if Liverpool played Norwich and Wigan every week…
It’s not like he doesn’t draw the abuse on himself!! God I’d love to hurt him!
Lol who wouldn’t. He has a face to punch.