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No pressure on centurion Zidane
If Real Madrid are under pressure after a less-than-commanding start to the season, no one told Zinedine Zidane. The Frenchman, a picture of tranquility since taking one of football's most fraught jobs in January 2016, has continued to cut an ice-cool figure in the dugout despite his side's failure to hit top gear.
He has reason to trust his convictions, of course: Saturday's game against Getafe, settled late on by Cristiano Ronaldo, was Zidane's 100th in charge of Los Merengues. Madrid have won 75 of them, claiming seven trophies in the process, so while there is plenty of room for improvement on recent displays, there is also plenty of credit remaining in the bank.
The Champions League has been a release valve in recent weeks, with a simple victory over APOEL followed by Madrid's best performance of the season away to Borussia Dortmund. Now they have the chance to take command of Group H in a game that should feature Isco and Luka Modrić - both of whom were rested at the weekend - from the start. The return of Karim Benzema is also a big boost in attack.
Litmus test for Tottenham's European hopes
At the fourth time of asking, Spurs popped their Premier League cherry at Wembley this weekend. The 1-0 defeat of Bournemouth probably won't live long in the memory, but it did at least clear away one mental barrier before a tricky run of fixtures that sees Mauricio Pochettino's side face Real Madrid (twice), Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund in the next five weeks.
There should be no great fear factor ahead of a trip to the Spanish capital, two solid wins having got Tottenham off to the perfect start in Europe. Yet it's hard not to view this match as an early Litmus test for their hopes of going deep into the competition: Madrid are a far more savvy side than Dortmund and will not want to let first place in the group of out their grasp.
Pochettino will be hoping that Ben Davies, one of the side's standout players either side of the summer break, will have recovered from illness to line up on the left flank at the Bernabéu. Dele Alli remains suspended, although Jan Vertonghen is free to play after being banned for the trip to APOEL.
Madrid a tough cookie to crack
Madrid's Champions League record on home soil has been imperious in recent years: since being turned over by AC Milan in October 2009, they have lost just two and drawn five of 45 games at the Bernabéu. And 2009 was also the last time Real lost to an English side (4-0 to Liverpool), with the intervening years bringing seven wins and three draws. It is no great surprise, then, that the hosts are 1.45 favourites here.
Spurs lost 4-0 on their last visit to this stadium and while the current XI is several cuts above the one Harry Redknapp fielded that night in 2011, this is still a side feeling its way into the Champions League. Recent away form has been excellent - five wins from five in all competitions - but Newcastle, Everton West Ham, APOEL and Huddersfield hardly provided a stiff examination.
Madrid's league form has been shaky, but their ruthless display in Dortmund would seem to be a better guide for us here: in a one-off game in this competition, this is a side that simply gets things done. The odds on the straight home win may not hold huge appeal, though, so it may be worth considering the goals markets to sweeten the deal...
Goals not guaranteed
All four Champions League games involving these sides have gone over 2.5 goals, and Madrid's defensive frailties always bring the Both Teams to Score market into the equation. Yet this should be a less frantic affair than the games involving Dortmund: Spurs are excellent defensively, for a start, and would likely be more than happy with a draw, meaning their outlook may be circumspect at the outset.
Throw in the fact that Madrid's attack has yet to fully cut loose this term and there's a good argument for being sniffy about the prospect of a goal fest. Under 2.5 goals tempts at [2.85] but under 3.5 is the safer option at reasonable odds of 1.79.
Kane the man for Spurs
Spurs may be up against it in terms of the result, but there's no reason to think Harry Kane won't have some joy against a patched-up Madrid backline. The striker has scored seven goals in his last three away games for Spurs and can be backed at around 2.50.
Recommended Bet
Under 3.5 goals at 1.79
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