"Madrid continue in limbo" concluded AS, but Marca needed just one word - "debacle."

It was a dream night for Tottenham at Wembley but a nightmare for Real Madrid, for whom "all the alarms are ringing" if you believe Marca's front page on Wednesday morning (below).

They "transferred their crisis to Europe," wrote Jesus Sanchez, a crisis that shows little sign of abating. We asked on these pages earlier this week whether Zinedine Zidane, a coach who has survived on good relationships with his players but little in the way of decisive tactical acumen, would be able to revive this team and, increasingly, the press in the Spanish capital seems unconvinced.

"His intentions were good. The result awful," was the conclusion on Zidane's gameplan, "the defeat was painful and the worst of the Zidane era... alarms are beginning to sound."

Back over at AS, the tone was no less bleak: "This was the worst Madrid that Zidane has managed up to now."

"Kroos and Modric have lost their level and energy. They don't dominate games."

It was the midfield that came in for most criticism and, unusually for such a convincing defeat, the defence who saw some praise. But not as much as Harry Kane, who might not have scored but certainly won over Spanish onlookers who described him as "a nightmare, a tremendous headache."

Indeed, one analysis by Marca had Kane wearing a different white shirt in the not-too-distant future.

"Are Real Madrid not looking for a 9? Because after watching Kane, sending any scouts to any part of the world that isn't Wembley would be a waste of time and money. He's the man."

Tottenham vs Real Madrid player ratings Show all 22 1 /22 Tottenham vs Real Madrid player ratings Tottenham vs Real Madrid player ratings Lloris – 6 His heroics from the game at the Bernabeu weren’t required but he dealt with everything thrown at him. Tottenham vs Real Madrid player ratings Alderweireld – 6 Came off with a hamstring injury mid-way through the first half. Tottenham vs Real Madrid player ratings Sanchez – 7 He’s a class act but he didn’t need to show it tonight against a Real Madrid attack lacking any real spark. Tottenham vs Real Madrid player ratings Vertonghen – 7 Alderweireld wasn’t missed after his injury-enforced substitution and that’s a pretty big compliment. Tottenham vs Real Madrid player ratings Trippier – 8 Got forward so well. His final ball, as always, was absolutely superb. Tottenham vs Real Madrid player ratings Eriksen – 8 Applied the finishing touch to a devastating counter-attack to put Spurs 3-0 up. Tottenham vs Real Madrid player ratings Dier – 7 Dropped into defence after Alderweireld’s injury and adapted well. Tottenham vs Real Madrid player ratings Winks – 7 Kept things ticking over in the middle of the park and didn’t allow Luka Modric or Toni Kroos the time or the space to dictate the match, as they are so used to doing. Tottenham vs Real Madrid player ratings Davies – 7 Not as impressive going forward as Trippier on the opposite flank but equally as good defensively. Tottenham vs Real Madrid player ratings Alli – 9 Absolutely outstanding in his first Champions League appearance of the season and deserved his two goals. Tottenham vs Real Madrid player ratings Kane – 8 Didn’t get on the scoresheet but claimed the assist for Eriksen’s goal and dominated Real Madrid’s central defenders. Tottenham vs Real Madrid player ratings Casilla – 6 Could maybe have done better with the cross for Spurs’ opener but can’t be blamed for the hosts’ second and third goals. Tottenham vs Real Madrid player ratings Hakimi – 6 Played well in the first match at the Bernabeu but wasn’t as effective tonight. Tottenham vs Real Madrid player ratings Ramos – 5 Harry Kane got the better of him tonight and his frustrations boiled over at the end of the match as he was booked for sarcastically applauding the referee. Tottenham vs Real Madrid player ratings Nacho – 5 Not a worthy replacement for the injured Raphael Varane. Tottenham vs Real Madrid player ratings Marcelo – 6 Bombed forward down the left wing regularly and kept the ball alive for Ronaldo’s late consolation goal. Tottenham vs Real Madrid player ratings Casemiro – 5 Usually so dependable at the base of Madrid’s midfield but was off the pace tonight. Beaten far too easily by Alli for Spurs’ second goal. Tottenham vs Real Madrid player ratings Kroos – 5 Had very little impact on the game. Tottenham vs Real Madrid player ratings Modric – 5 See Kroos, Toni. Madrid had the lion’s share of possession but they weren’t anywhere near as penetrative with the ball as we have become so accustomed to seeing them over the past two years. Tottenham vs Real Madrid player ratings Isco – 5 Of Real Madrid’s front three players, he was the least effective. Tottenham vs Real Madrid player ratings Ronaldo – 7 He was Madrid’s best player by far. A threat throughout the match and got a deserved goal late on. Tottenham vs Real Madrid player ratings Benzema – 6 Was involved in a couple of decent Madrid attacks at the end of the first half but was non-existent after the break.

At the other end, though, no such luck. Cristiano Ronaldo, who has endured a tough start to the season, criticised in brutal fashion by AS's Luis Nieto.

"The Portuguese appears to have lost his superpowers and is incapable of supporting [his place in the team] if he doesn't score."

Harry Kane's performance against Real Madrid triggered calls from the Spanish press to sign the striker at all costs (Getty)

But he still got off lighter than goalkeeper Kiko Casilla, who Marca essentially accuse of letting in Dele Alli's opener on purpose, or Marcelo, who was picked on by Spurs and then the Madrid press corps - "a disaster" wrote Ruben Jimenez. Karim Benzema, according to AS's Real Madrid editor Tomas Roncero, "is the first striker in the club's history who doesn't need to score goals but remains an indisputable starter."

Marca's Hugo Cerezo criticised Zidane's substitutions and scoffed at losing to a club of Spurs' level. This wasn't against "a European great, but a second-tier club without continental tradition or Champions League silverware."

Of course, as desperately miserable as the scene was being painted in the capital things took a somewhat different tone in the Barcelona-based media.

"Madrid in freefall," said Mundo Deportivo, barely concealing a grin.

Dele Alli was outstanding as Tottenham dismantled Real Madrid (Getty 2017)

"What happened in Girona and what happened in London are the palpable proof that Madrid are in crisis," wrote their Real Madrid editor, Manuel Bruna, of a game that near neighbours SPORT described in similar terms.

"Tottenham put together a game that was intense, without rest, no time to think or even breathe," but there was more to Mauricio Pochettino's men than that.

"Tottenham really play football, and they do it with players like Kane, Alli and Eriksen. A ceaseless burden for Real Madrid."