Sign up to FREE email alerts from Football London - Spurs Subscribe Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Invalid Email

'Real Madrid prepare for English hooligans' screamed the headline of Marca's web article on Tuesday.

The story proclaimed in no uncertain terms that the Tottenham Hotspur fans had already begun massing in the city's main square and were causing a disturbance as expected.

The reality was something completely different and proved that once again our country's past still casts a long shadow. English football fans come with pre-conceived notions attached whatever their behaviour.

football.london wandered among the thousand or so Spurs supporters gathered in the Plaza Mayor in the middle of Madrid on Tuesday afternoon.

Despite Marca's best attempts to portray something different, the scene was one of fun and tourists enjoying an amazing city. The supporters packed out the bars and restaurants of the picturesque square, chatting, singing songs and rejoicing in being able to see their club making their way to the Bernabeu while, as the chant goes, Arsenal fans were back home watching Emmerdale.

There was not a sniff of trouble to be had and the fans showed plenty of respect to their surroundings. A couple of police vans watched on from a distance, having no issue with the scene before them.

The locals watched from their balconies above the plaza or gathered around the edges of the square, fascinated by the strange sight of a white sea of fans with all their flags and banners.

The only danger - in the loosest sense of the word - came from a massive game of keepy-uppy with two footballs being booted or headed around the square from one group to another. Once in a while a ball would hit some innocent bystander, but they smiled and shrugged it off, either getting into the spirit of things or wary of upsetting anyone.

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

The chants were spine-tingling at times. The sound of 'Oh when the Spurs' being sung by such a large gathering of supporters was something to behold and surely drifted across the rooftops of Madrid.

As kick off approached it was time to begin filing towards the ground - using Madrid's incredibly simple Metro system that drops you off right outside the stadium.

The Santiago Bernabeu is a sight to see. One of football's great stadiums it - like White Hart Lane once did - creeps up on you as you turn a corner among the city streets. It's a football mecca hidden among the cosmopolitan Madrid pavements.

The front is packed even when there's not a match taking place with people taking selfies from all walks of life.

The ground is so large that getting round to a certain gate number on the other side can take some time - especially when you discover the Spanish police have blocked off the turnstile you require because the Real Madrid team coach is coming with the players.

With policemen on horses heading in my direction and making it clear that it was a case of wait for Ronaldo and co or be trampled over, Cristiano and his chums suddenly seemed an appealing prospect.

The fans waited a good half an hour for just a glimpse of the surprisingly small, white coach, but when it did turn the corner towards the Bernabeu mass hysteria suddenly erupted. Madrid supporters from far and wide - or perhaps simply Ronaldo fans - went wild as the coach came into view.

You couldn't see inside the windows and for all they knew it could have been empty, but that did not stop the screams. It's the closest thing a modern crowd can come to the scenes greeting the Beatles back in the 60s.

(Image: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

My delay in entering the stadium did present one unexpected bonus. I was approached by a smiling chap called Peter Rabin and we chatted about all things Tottenham Hotspur.

It turned out that Peter is the official Spurs dental surgeon and had been for more than 20 years, while also fulfilling the same role at Saracens Rugby Club.

While he did not reveal any details of Harry Kane and co's dental work - probably why he's remained the club's go to dentist for so long - it was clear from our conversation that he has the respect of the playing and coaching staff as well as the chairman.

Peter follows the club everywhere and due to the nature of his role in rugby, actually sits on the bench for Saracens matches. You couldn't meet a more pleasant chap and having supported Spurs since the days of Cliff Jones and Bill Nicholson, he is clearly living the dream in marrying his profession and his passion.

With farewells said and having finally made it inside the stadium, it was time for what I call 'the steps moment'. Not the cheesy pop band from the turn of the century, more so the walk up the steps inside the stadium before you emerge with the lush, green pitch in front of you.

Only one stadium has given me the same goosebumps I felt on Tuesday night and that is the Lane. With that wonderful old ground a mere memory now, the Bernabeu did a decent job of holding its place before the new stadium arrives.

The turf was like a carpet and the stadium cavernous inside. The sound from the home fans and the travelling masses echoed around the arena and played its part in what was an amazing night of football.

The game lived up to its billing even if the two strikers going head to head - Kane and Ronaldo - did not.

The crowd hissed and whistled at the Tottenham players - Jan Vertonghen getting the brunt of it after his theatrics following a tussle with the city's Portuguese hero.

Spurs battled throughout though and managed to leave the home fans in near silence at the final whistle, with chants such as 'Mauricio Pochettino, he's magic you know' and 'Wake me up before you go go, who needs Bale when you've got Sissoko' echoing around the stands.

The two managers' press conferences were fascinating, especially with the use of headphones that gave you a direct translation from a little room with a team of people frantically explaining into your ear what was being said.

It was particularly handy with all but three questions for Pochettino coming in Spanish and Zinedine Zidane's posers all coming in Spanish or French.

Pochettino was pride personified after frustrating one of the world's biggest sides. Resplendent in a smart suit, his face told the whole story as he knew he had returned to Spain and reminded everyone of his worth.

Zidane was far more sombre - not that he's the most lively person off the field at the best of times - as he had to bat away questions about Madrid's struggles in front of goal recently.

Credit to the Frenchman though. He made it very clear that this was no case of bad luck. He was keen to point out that Tottenham were worthy of their point and could have won the game.

With the managers departed and the players already on their coaches, it was time to depart back on the Metro. Even in the depths of the subway system, underneath the streets of Madrid, you could hear the Tottenham faithful singing away about the Bernabeu and Emmerdale.

It was a night to remember for everyone inside that famous old stadium and the fans will have headed home hoping it's merely the start of something special.

How far will Spurs go in the Champions League this season? Let us know in the comments below.