It may seem rather odd that it will be Costa and not his right-sided full-back partner, Mario, who will be tasked with trying to corral the electric-heeled Welshman. After all Tottenham fans will recall that Bale’s most effective work for their club took place on the left side of attack. The destruction of Maicon in the Champions League tie which announced him to the watching world and was played on a loop on the stadium’s television screens when he was introduced at the Bernabéu last week was carried out within a few inches of the left touchline. There is many a Spurs supporter who will tell you that those occasions last season when Bale was employed on the right generally coincided with his least effective contributions to the Tottenham cause. Which is no real surprise since he has given every indication during his career that his right foot is there solely to act as balance to his wand-like left.