Bale back for Spurs

Gareth Bale overcame his hamstring injury to make the starting line-up for Tottenham’s Champions League quarter-final first leg against Real Madrid.

The Welshman has been struggling with the problem for the last 10 days, but he was passed fit to make a Spurs XI that also included William Gallas, who had been troubled by a knee injury.

Harry Redknapp stuck with his tried and tested European strikeforce of Peter Crouch and former Madrid forward Rafael van der Vaart, while Sandro partnered Luka Modric in the centre of midfield.

Cristiano Ronaldo was included in Jose Mourinho’s side after recovering from his own hamstring injury which had kept him out of Portugal’s two recent internationals and Saturday’s shock home defeat to Sporting Gijon.

Left-back Marcelo and winger Angel Di Maria started after injury concerns, while Xabi Alonso returned after being suspended for the Sporting match.

Former Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor, on loan from Manchester City, started up front for the nine-time European champions with Gonzalo Higuain – who returned at the weekend after more than four months out with a back problem – on the bench.

Real Madrid: Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Carvalho, Marcelo, Di Maria, Alonso, Ozil, Khedira, Adebayor, Ronaldo. Subs: Adan, Kaka, Diarra, Granero, Arbeloa, Garay, Higuain.

Tottenham: Gomes, Corluka, Gallas, Dawson, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon, Sandro, Modric, Bale, Van der Vaart, Crouch. Subs: Cudicini, Huddlestone, Jenas, Pavlyuchenko, Defoe, Bassong, Kranjcar.

Referee: Felix Brych (Germany)