The Real Champs
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Tottenham vs Real Madrid – Three things to watch in the Champions League

By Alex McVey

MADRID, SPAIN - OCTOBER 17: Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Hugo Lloris makes a save from Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid during the UEFA Champions League group H match between Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on October 17, 2017 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN - OCTOBER 17: Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Hugo Lloris makes a save from Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid during the UEFA Champions League group H match between Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on October 17, 2017 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images) /
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Real Madrid travel to London to take on the Tottenham Hotspur in Wembley. Here are three things to watch ahead of the big Champions League match.

MADRID, SPAIN – OCTOBER 17: Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Hugo Lloris makes a save from Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid during the UEFA Champions League group H match between Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on October 17, 2017 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – OCTOBER 17: Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Hugo Lloris makes a save from Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid during the UEFA Champions League group H match between Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on October 17, 2017 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images) /

Can Real Madrid find their missing intensity?

Zinedine Zidane’s favorite buzzword to describe every time Real Madrid slept-walked their way through a match last season was “intensity.”

Well, the intensity problems that plagued the lacklustre Madrid performances during the first part of last season have once again reared their ugly head. Madrid have been poor throughout much of their opening La Liga campaign, capped off by a loss against newly promoted side Girona on Sunday.

Both with the heavily rotated side in the Copa del Rey against Fuenlabrada, and in the full-strength squad against Girona, Real Madrid looked lethargic. The intensity that Madrid showed in the run up to the historic La Liga / Champions League double, the same intensity which Madrid showed in the Spanish Super Cup against Barcelona, has now seemed to vanish into thin air.

The Champions League is Real Madrid’s signature tournament. Hopefully the loss against Girona will wake up this Real Madrid squad. Given Borussia Dortmund’s struggle against APOEL in the last Champions League matchweek, a draw against Tottenham in the Bernabéu was not a terrible result. But nevertheless, Real Madrid don’t want to tempt fate when everything else is going poorly. Madrid’s La Liga title hopes are already in serious jeopardy. That means Los Blancos may have to take the Champions League as their best opportunity for serious silverware this season.

A big result against Tottenham could go a long way to dispelling the fears that are currently being sowed amongst large groups of the fans and media. Real Madrid need a win, and to get that win, they’ll need to rediscover their lost intensity.

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