Real vs Tottenham Spurs' rookies have given 20 assists

Paraphrasing the 'Song of the pirate' by Jose de Espronceda, 'with two cannons at the side and in full sail,' Mauricio Pochettino's Tottenham arrive at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu knowing that much of their attacking verve will be as a result of the crossing and assisting ability of their full-backs.

Five consecutive victories is an affirmation that has more to do with their style of play than their form.

The spotlight will be on Harry Kane, Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli, but Pochettino has drawn up a plan in which the wide players in either a 4-2-3-1 or 3-4-2-1 will be vital.

Tottenham have a solid system in defence - conceding just 26 last season - and were the highest scorers in the Premier League in the same period.

The numbers give you the reason why.

Since the start of 2016/17, the full-backs have provided more assists (20) than any other team in the English top flight.

Chelsea, for example, have 14 assists but they include those from their centre-backs.

Then come Everton (13), Watford (12), Arsenal (11) and Leicester, Hull and Bournemouth (10).

Numbers of assists from Spurs full-backs since the start of 2016/17

Trippier --> 8 assists (Premier League record) Walker (before leaving for City) --> 5 assists Ben Davies --> 3 goals and 5 assists Rose --> 2 goals and 2 assists

Premier League defensive assists from the start of 2016/17

Tottenham (full-backs only) --> 20 Chelsea (full-backs and central defenders) --> 14 Everton (full-backs and central defenders) --> 13 Watford (full-backs and central defenders) --> 12 Arsenal (full-backs and central defenders) --> 11 Leicester (full-backs and central defenders) --> 10 Hull City (full-backs and central defenders) --> 10 Bournemouth (full-backs and central defenders) --> 10 West Ham (full-backs and central defenders) --> 9 Manchester City (full-backs and central defenders) --> 9 Southampton (full-backs and central defenders) --> 8 Liverpool (full-backs and central defenders) --> 8 Crystal Palace (full-backs and central defenders) --> 8 Manchester United (full-backs and central defenders) --> 7 West Bromwich (full-backs and central defenders) --> 5 Middlesbrough (full-backs and central defenders) --> 4 Swansea (full-backs and central defenders) --> 3 Stoke (full-backs and central defenders) --> 3 Newcastle (full-backs and central defenders) --> 0 Huddersfield Town (full-backs and central defenders) --> 0 Brighton (full-backs and central defenders) --> 0

Didn't resent Walker's farewell

Last season Kyle Walker provided five assists but Pochettino has not begrudged the right-back his move to Manchester City.

Nor has he been downhearted by Danny Rose's long-term injury - he scored two goals and gave two assists last year.

"When you have full-backs as offensive as Walker or Rose - both were chosen in our ideal XI last season - you have to try to find a better position for them, Pochettino noted once he'd modified his preferred way of playing.

The performance of the new full-backs have been spectacular however, but the central defenders - Alderweireld, Davinson Sanchez and Vertonghen - have given them a good deal of freedom it must be said.

Kieran Trippier, a substitute in 2016/17, has taken advantage of the 1,109 minutes he has had since last season to become the full-back with the most assists in the Premier League (8).

"I knew that I would get the opportunity and I never doubted myself," Trippier noted recently.

Ben Davies, the holder of the left-back slot, has five assists and three goals in the same period.

"Competing with Rose and Walker made me develop as a player," he said.

Between the four already mentioned and the 'newcomers' Serge Aurier - signed in exchange for 25 million euros - and Kyle Walker-Peters - an academy graduate - they have produced 137 goal chances with 357 crosses into the area.

Madrid must be careful because Tottenham have real weapons on both sides.