Gareth Bale leads Real Madrid to haunt Tottenham in Audi Cup
Real Madrid advanced to the final of the Audi Cup after Gareth Bale's goal against his former club helped the Blancos to a 2-0 win over Tottenham in Tuesday's clash at the Allianz Arena.
The Welshman, who moved to the Spanish capital for a world-record fee two years ago, struck Real's second with 11 minutes to go, after James Rodriguez had opened the scoring in the first half.
Bale's celebrations were muted, as he and Luka Modric got one over on their old employers in Munich.
It was another defeat for Spurs, who lost 2-1 to the MLS All-Star team last week, while Real added Pochettino's men to their list of preseason scalps, alongside Manchester City, Inter and Milan, who have all been beaten by the 10-time European champion over the past fortnight.
Wednesday's third-place playoff against either Bayern Munich or Milan represents Spurs' final fixture before their Premier League campaign kicks off with a trip to Manchester United on Saturday.
The early exchanges were wide open, with both sides spurning excellent chances to take the lead inside the first five minutes.
Kyle Walker got free down the right and put in a low ball for Erik Lamela, who could only shoot over on the stretch from eight yards.
Real's response was immediate, Jese Rodriguez thumped a drive against the crossbar before seeing his curling effort tipped superbly round the post by Michel Vorm.
The Spurs goalkeeper produced another fine save 10 minutes prior to the interval, scrambling across his line to claw the ball away after Modric's shot had taken a wicked deflection off Kevin Wimmer.
But Tottenham's respite was brief as Rodriguez nodded in Isco's left-wing delivery a minute later.
The opening to the second period was less eventful than the first, Spurs substitute Nacer Chadli brought a low save out of Kiko Casilla with the first action of note on the hour mark.
But any Tottenham hopes of a comeback were extinguished late on thanks to a former White Hart Lane favorite.
Bale cut out a square ball and drove forward, before unleashing a shot from 25 yards which bounced just in front of Vorm, who was unable to prevent it skipping up off the turf and into the corner.
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