EYEWITNESS: Tottenham Hotspur 0 Real Madrid 1 (0x5 agg), UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUARTER FINAL SECOND LEG: SPURS 0 REAL MADRID 1 (0x5 on aggregate)

EYEWITNESS report by DAN CARRIER

from WHITE HART LANE

I WOKE up this morning, dreaming of early goals. I had an inkling we'd get a couple of them. Then maybe Madrid would have a player sent off.

And then perhaps we'd hold it steady till mid-way through the second half, and then Gareth Bale would hit a 30 second hat trick and...well. Then I had to get up, get dressed, and get to work...

Being in the Champions League has been a good enough dream while it lasted and the fact its come to an end now instead of against Barcelona in a couple of weeks time may mean we get to have another go next season.

Let's face it, away we were outclassed, and at home Madrid took it easy, let us have a pop, but were fairly comfortable throughout. Spurs banged and banged on the front door instead of seeing if the bathroom window round the back had been left ajar.

We can't dwell on it - we've got Arsenal next. The ride has been splendid and the players can say they gave it their best shot.

Harry opted for width, with Lennon and Bale on the flanks: he stuck playing Pavlyuchenko up front and pushed van der Vaart forward alongside him with a license to roam. Harry hardly had to say you've got to attack: and straight from the off, we saw Spurs tear in.

On three, Bale was poleaxed in the box and there were howls for as penalty. Seconds later Lennon was obstructed as he tried to zoom outside his marker on the right. Then Bale had an effort from the left well saved, and Modric nearly shnaffled up the rebound. It was a neat beginning.

Yet the flood gates did not open. Madrid got a little lucky when the ball failed to fall for Spurs in the danger areas, but when they did have the ball, the took the sting out of the game in a classic Mourinho way, and my dreams of early goals remained just that. 

On 49 Gomes fumbled a long ranger from Ronaldo and that was that. Instead of having a faint glimmer to provoke roars whenever we crossed the half way line, it turned into a little bit of a wake, with mournful eulogies and expressions of never ending loyalty rolling off the stands.

All we wanted was a goal to cheer: Defoe nearly turned a shot goalwards off a deep corner on 74, van der Vaart also came close, but we didn't once really make Iker Casillas get his knees dirty.  

Still it's been fun.  I have had some golden Euro moments. The thrill of battering Inter at home stands out, as does the Crouch goal away against AC, (and the momenumental sign song on the way to and from the San Siro. Twice). I'll also remember fondly the feeling that came with the victories against FC Twente and Bremen, when it became apparent we most certainly were not the greenest team to have had a European adventure.

We can talk we about not having the key players fully fit, but there has to be lessons learnt from the caning in Madrid. Be a bit cuter in possession, and don't wear yourself chasing the ball when you are not. And don't, whatever you do, throw yourselves into unnecessary tackles.

But going out in the Quarters to Real is no shame, and now we have to steel ourselves and stride into the final seven games of the season, play like each is a cup final, and get on this stage again. 

As I said, it's been a ball. Having a season of it makes me crave for more. From the special music as the players walk out to the all white kits, from Crouchy scaring the life out of European centre backs in a way he just doesn't do in the Premier, to booking a baby sitter for a Tuesday night instead of a Thursday. Watching players whose names became part of the football Lingua Franca in the last World Cup (this was particularly true tonight, with Ozil, Ramos, and dare I say it, Ronaldo on display).

And how much will I miss hearing the shouty European commentators who barked in my ear in the press box through out if we don't make it next term?

PLAYER RATINGS:

Gomes, 5: So often a hero, he fumbled Ronaldo's effort. A great shame to concede so weakly.

Bale, 7: Fancied his chances of beating them single handedly and for a spell in the first half looked like he'd do just that (though not sadly to the tune of four goals).

Huddlestone, 6: A little ring rusty, which is understandable, but still offered a range of passing that has hitherto been missing while he was injured. Sub: Sandro

Lennon, 6: Clearly recovered from his bug and was keen to make up for missing out last time. Sub: Defoe

Pavlyuchenko, 7: Blasted over a great chance on 26, and put a header over on 57, but otherwise gave us something when ever the ball came to him.

van der Vaart, 5: Something got his goat early on and showed his tempestuos side throughout, trying too ambitious defence splitting passes, then in his attempts to make amends, throwing himself into questionable challenges.

Gallas, 7: Fine performance marshalling things. Pleased he has signed on for another term.

Modric, 7: Had to carry things in the face of van der Vaart having an off day.

Dawson, 7: Showed that he is comfortable at this level.

Corluka, 5: Battled for everything but failed to find quality balls for Lennon to chase, which is normally a crucial outlet.

Assou-Ekotto, 6: Had his hands full watching Ronaldo to get forward as much as he does against your average Premiership team.

SUBS:

Cudicini

Kaboul

Jenas

Defoe

Bassong

Kranjcar

Sandro