Gareth Bale came back to haunt Inter once again as Tottenham romped to a very impressive 3-0 win over the Italian giants in the last 16 first leg at White Hart Lane.
Bale grabbed the world’s attention when he tore Inter apart in the Champions League in 2010.
Andre Villas-Boas warned Inter that the Welshman had improved immeasurably in the two years, four months and five days that had passed since the famous “Taxi for Maicon” night at White Hart Lane – and he was proven right last night.
Bale nodded home Gylfi Sigurdsson’s cross to put Spurs ahead after just five minutes and he set up Jan Vertonghen for the hosts’ third after Sigurdsson himself had scored the second.
Bale missed two chances to match the hat-trick he scored in the San Siro two seasons ago, but in the end it did not matter as Spurs completely dominated a poor Inter team.
Raul Rusescu won and converted a first half penalty to give Steaua Bucharest a 1-0 victory over last season’s European champions Chelsea in Romania.
Lazio won 2-0 at VfB Stuttgart while Fenerbahce snatched a late win 1-0 at Czech side Viktoria Plzen in last 16 first leg ties.
Goalkeeper Rob Elliot made a brilliant second-half save from Samuel Eto’o as Newcastle United held out for a dour goalless draw in bitterly cold conditions away to Russians Anzhi Makhachkala.
With the temperature well below zero, Anzhi started brightly but lost momentum after Brazilian playmaker Willian, signed from Shakhtar Donetsk for 35 million euros at the start of February, went off injured after 22 minutes.
Chelsea, who ended up in the competition after becoming the first title-holders to be eliminated in the Champions League group stage, are in danger of a second European exit of the season after losing in front of a record 55,000 crowd at Bucharest’s National Stadium.
The only goal came when Ryan Bertrand was penalised for impeding Rusescu at the far post and the 24-year-old forward stepped up to fire the penalty in the 34th minute.
Blues interim manager Benitez described the penalty award as “soft” but Chelsea were lacklustre, offering little attacking threat.
“We know that we have to do our job now at home,” said Benitez.
“In these kind of games and this kind of competition, if you don’t score away it’s always more difficult.
“We are disappointed, but still we have the belief we will win at home.”
Lazio put one foot in the quarter-finals with a confident display to beat Stuttgart on their own turf.
Stuttgart knew they needed a result at home to have much hope, given the Italians’ imposing home form, but barely created a clear opening in slumping to defeat.
Goals in either half from Honorato Ederson and Ogenyi Onazi sealed the win for Lazio, who will now take a commanding advantage back to the Stadio Olimipico where they are unbeaten in 10 outings.
Last 16
First Legs
Anzhi 0
Newcastle 0
Basel 2
Diaz 83, Frei 90+4 Pen
Zenit Sp 0
Red Card: Neto 90+3 (Zsp)
Benfica 1
Carrasso 21 Og
Bordeaux 0
Levante 0
R. Kazan 0
Red Card: Ansaldi (Rk) 52
S. Bucharest 1
Rusescu 34 Pen
Chelsea 0
Stuttgart 0
Lazio 2
Ederson 21; Onazi 56
Tottenham 3
Bale 6, Sigurdsson 18, Vertonghen 53
Inter 0
V. Plzen 0
Fenerbahce 1
Webo 81