Hello and welcome to
Sports Mole's live coverage of the Audi Cup semi-final between
Real Madrid and
Tottenham Hotspur. Both teams have endured an indifferent pre-season so far, but victory for one of these clubs today will take them through to a showdown with Bayern Munich or Fenerbahce. With the two sides making their way out at the Allianz Arena, let's see who features in each starting lineup...
REAL MADRID XI: Navas; Carvajal, Ramos, Varane,
Marcelo; Kroos, Modric; Vazquez, Hazard, Rodrygo; Benzema
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR XI: Gazzaniga; Foyth, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose; Winks, Ndombele; Lamela, Eriksen, Son; Kane
KICKOFF: Spurs get us underway!
A poor back-pass in the Spurs defence almost lets in Vazquez, but Gazzaniga is alert to clear the danger ahead of Benzema. Spurs have had the better of possession since then, without posing a threat in the final third.
Another wayward back-pass - this time from Modric - leads to a corner for Spurs, although they fail to create an opportunity after playing it short.
Spurs have started well here. They are passing the ball about with authority, waiting for a chance to materialise further forward.
Real have been happy enough without the ball, but Rodrygo is quick to show his pace when in possession on the halfway line. The teenager accelerated from Ndombele, before running into trouble after a heavy touch.
While we have barely seen anything from Hazard, Rodrgyo continues to look lively. The youngster just linked up play in the final third before Rose reached the ball ahead of Vazquez.
We are still awaiting the first shot of any note, but it has been intriguing nonetheless. Pochettino will be the happier of the two managers.
A mistake from Hazard leads to Son being in a position to try to play Lamela in on goal. The pass looks a good one, but Modric gets back to make a timely interception.
Real win a corner on the left, only for the set piece to be cleared to Marcelo on the edge of the area. The left-back attempts an ambitious half-volley, but the ball hits a player in the box.
CHANCE! Spurs almost go in front courtesy of an own goal. Rose's cutback from the left is intercepted by Varane, but Navas needs to throw himself to his right to prevent the ball from finding the bottom corner.
SHOT! Spurs are upping the tempo. Moments after Lamela had a volley from 12 yards superbly kept out by Navas, Ndombele tried his luck from all of 30 yards, only for the goalkeeper to divert the strike over the crossbar.
GOAL! REAL MADRID 0-1 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (HARRY KANE)
© Reuters
GOAL! It had been coming. Marcelo sends a pass over the head of Ramos and it leads to Kane advancing through on goal. The angle is slightly against the forward, but he keeps his composure to slot the ball under Navas and inside the near post.
Real have responded well by taking a couple of shots from distance. There have also been crosses delivered into the area, but Spurs survive.
CHANCE! Spurs hit back with another efficient attack. Eriksen plays a neat ball through to Kane, although the frontman can only fire straight at Navas.
CHANCE! Real should now be level. They go straight down the other end with Modric pulling the ball back for Benzema, but the Frenchman's first-time effort from 12 yards is deflected wide of the post by Alderweireld's ankle.
As we approach the half-hour mark, both managers are becoming increasingly annoyed with the efforts of their backlines. We definitely should have had more goals.
SAVE! This is excellent from Navas. Lamela does well to keep hold of the ball before floating a pass over to Kane. The forward is favourite to score, but the goalkeeper manages to divert his effort wide of the far post.
Having conceded 12 goals during games with Bayern Munich, Arsenal and Atletico Madrid, Zidane must have big concerns over his defence. They have been all over the place over the last 15 minutes.
Zidane's men are looking much better in attack, however. There is plenty of movement in the final third, and Spurs are struggling to deal with it.
Much better from Hazard, who finds himself at the centre of a promising attack. However, the Belgian's eventual strike is blocked by compatriot Alderweireld.
As we move closer to the break, both Zidane and Pochettino will already be considering alterations. Both clubs will be back in action tomorrow against either Bayern Munich or Fenerbahce.
CHANCE! Hazard is growing into this contest. The playmaker strides forward through the centre before handing the ball to Benzema, who cuts inside and fires a strike from 16 yards marginally over the crossbar.
Aside from that opening, there are signs that both clubs are beginning to wind down to half time. It comes as no surprise. The pace has really picked up over the last 25 minutes.
Spurs burst into life through Lamela and Kane, but the latter's strike - after the former is tripped on the edge of the area - is deflected wide of the target.
HALF TIME: Real Madrid 0-1 Tottenham Hotspur
The half-time whistle goes in Munich and Spurs lead thanks to Kane's well-taken goal midway through the first period. Both teams should have more goals to their name, however, in what has been an entertaining tussle.
This is not the only action which we have for you this evening. Manchester United are about to get underway against Kristiansund, and you can follow that contest by
clicking here.
The two sides have made their way back out in Munich. There have been changes, which we will discuss very shortly.
KICKOFF: Real get us back underway.
From what we can see, just Spurs have made alterations. The likes of Lloris, Walker-Peters, Sissoko, Alli and Moura are all now involved, as well as a few youngsters.
It has been a relatively low-key start to the second half. Real have probably offered the greater threat as a much-changed Spurs continue to find their feet.
Here's that Spurs side in full...
SHOT! Real are slowly beginning to get on top but on this occasion, Marcelo's effort from distance is weak and easily dealt with by Lloris.
YELLOW CARD! Georgiou has just gone into the book for a rather late challenge on Vazquez. He certainly cannot have any complaints about that.
CHANCE! It has been all Real since the break. The ball falls invitingly for Hazard around 12 yards from goal, but Tanganga stays big to prevent the Belgian's effort finding the back of the net.
SHOT! Spurs provide a response through Son, who sees a 25-yard curler superbly kept out by Navas. This game is starting to warm up again.
Zidane cannot be far off making some changes. It's either that, or we will be witnessing a much-changed side against either Bayern or Fenerbahce tomorrow evening.
CHANCE! This would have been a brilliant goal. Moura sends a precise ball over the top of the Real backline and into the path of Alli, whose first-time volley is palmed away by Navas.
SUBSTITUTIONS! It's time for some Real substitutions. Valverde is on for Kroos, while Vazquez has been replaced by Vinicius Junior.
SUBSTITUTIONS! Spurs follow that by introducing Parrott for Kane. Son has also been withdrawn from the action, with Nkoudou entering the fray.
Alli makes another run behind the Real defence and again, he gets on the end of a fine pass. However, the playmaker cannot get a shot away, despite being able to chest the ball down into his path.
As we enter the final 20 minutes, I cannot believe that we have only witnessed one goal! There have been plenty of opportunities since the 20th minute onwards. A reminder that if we are level after 90 minutes, we will head to penalties.
I am also surprised that Real have not made more alterations. Spurs have the younger team out there right now, but they have more energy about them.
That said, Real have seen more of the ball over the past couple of minutes, although that is partly due to Spurs beginning to sit deeper.
DISALLOWED GOAL! The Spanish giants have the ball in the back of the net through Rodrygo, who volleys home at the back post. However, the teenager was half a yard offside when making his run.
All of a sudden, there appears to space at both ends of the pitch as a result of Real pushing for an equaliser. Don't be surprised to see Spurs capitalise at the other end.
SUBSTITUTIONS! Real are now making some more changes. The likes of Odriozola, Mariano and Isco are among the players who are being introduced by Zidane.
Pochettino will be eager to see his team keep a clean sheet from this position. They have conceded four across games with Juventus and Manchester United.
SHOT! Real continue to push for a leveller, and it takes a smart stop from Lloris to keep out Kubo's low strike from distance.
SHOT! Kubo goes close again, this time with a ferocious volley from the edge of the area. However, the ball is always going wide of the post.
OFF THE POST! Spurs go straight down the other end and strike the post through Parrott! The youngster thought that his low attempt was heading towards the far corner, but the ball struck the inside of the woodwork and bounced clear.
An injury to Tanganga - who took a blow to the face from a shot from Kubo - has resulted in a stoppage in play. It will probably result in two minutes of added-on time.
FULL TIME: Real Madrid 0-1 Tottenham Hotspur
The full-time whistle goes in Germany and Spurs have held on to register a 1-0 win over Real Madrid. Despite plenty of opportunities at both ends, Kane's first-half strike has proven to be the difference. Pochettino's team will now take on either Bayern Munich or Fenerbahce tomorrow night.
That will be all from
Sports Mole for this match. Thank you for joining us this evening and we hope to see you again soon.
If you would like to read our on-the-whistle match report, you can do so by clicking here. Goodbye for now.