Tottenham Hotspur's Gareth Bale challenges Inter Milan's Maicon during their Champions League soccer
His display left his team-mates imploring Harry Redknapp keep hold of their rising star.
Bale was involved in all three of Spurs’ goals – laying on the strikes by Peter Crouch and Roman Pavlyuchenko – which had their other goalscorer Rafael van der Vaart hailing him as the man who is terrorising Europe’s meanest defences. Van der Vaart, who opened the scoring to leave Tottenham proudly top of Group A and one win away from qualifying for the next round, said: “He’s now one of our best players.
“Every week he is strong and everyone is scared of him.
“He was up against Maicon, one of the best defenders in the world, and he has killed him. To everyone, the whole club, we need to keep this guy.”
Bale, who stunned Inter with a hat-trick in the San Siro despite Tottenham’s 4-3 defeat.
THE mercurial Gareth Bale was once again the soaring star on a special night as Tottenham came of age in the Champions League to go above holders Inter Milan at the top of their group.After his fantastic hat-trick in Spurs’ 4-3 defeat in the San Siro, Bale once more frightened the life out of Inter – ripping them apart to set up two unmissable goals for Peter Crouch and Roman Pavlyuchenko.
He terrorised one of the world’s best right-backs in Brazilian Maicon to set up Crouch’s crucial second goal on a plate after Rafael Van der Vaart’s excellent 18th-minute opener.
Bale, 21, showed just why he is coveted by the likes of Barcelona, Read Madrid and AC Milan with another world-class performance – Samuel Eto’o’s 80th-minute effort coming too late to stop Spurs joining them with seven points apiece
Both teams were without their first-choice Brazilian goalkeepers, Tottenham’s Heurelho Gomes absent through suspension after being sent off at the San Siro and Inter’s Julio Cesar, who was replaced by Luca Castellazzi, missing through injury.
Keeper Carlo Cudicini was one of several changes from the team who controversially lost at Manchester United on Saturday – Tom Huddlestone fit again and replacing Jermaine Jenas and Crouch preferred to Robbie Keane.
The atmosphere was electric, the anticipation immense as Tottenham tested their mettle against the European elite in the form of the battle-hardened Champions League holders.
Spurs started with a real vibrancy and all-round fluidity to their play.
Milan striker Eto’o, the tournament’s top scorer this season and two goals to the good against Spurs from the San Siro, reminded everyone of his danger after six minutes when he produced a shot that whistled past the upright.
Two minutes later Castellazzi had to dive to the ground to keep out a low shot from Luka Modric as the Croatian midfielder wriggled his way on to the edge of Inter’s area.
The fans did not have to wait long for Bale to make his mark.
He and Assou-Ekotto linked up on the left for the Cameroon defender to find Modric in the middle of Inter’s half.
The Croatian’s brilliant dribble carved the Italians wide open through the centre, and his through-ball for Van der Vaart was perfect. Van de Vaart’s 18th-minute left-foot finish into the corner was exquisite.
It was his sixth Spurs goal in five home matches in all competitions. It should have been 2-0 after 24 minutes when Bale once again terrorised Maicon down the left.
His centre reached Crouch at the far post, but the England forward hit the ball back across the goal when it seemed easier to find the target.
Aaron Lennon was also getting in on the act down the right. One fizzing cross from Lennon just before the half-hour resulted in some crazy pin-ball in the box before Inter cleared.
Two minutes before the break Cudicini produced a brilliant flying tip-over to keep out Wesley Sneijder’s 18-yard free-kick – after Modric had fouled Eto’o – to preserve Tottenham’s lead.
Goalscorer Van der Vaart, the first part of his job done, was unable to come out for the second half – his hamstring problem flaring up again, and he was replaced by Jermaine Jenas while Modric pushed up into Van der Vaart’s position, behind Crouch.
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Bale then went close after 52 minutes with an outrageous overhead kick from the edge of the box after Castellazzi punched out a centre under pressure from Younes Kaboul and Crouch.
Tottenham, seeking that vital second, went close after 55 minutes.
Jenas’s driving run released Alan Hutton and the Scot’s deep cross was met by Crouch’s firm header – only to be tipped over by Castellazzi.
Just after the hour Tottenham went two up and the goal owed everything to Bale’s brilliance, pace and determination.
Kaboul started the move, winning the ball for Modric, who then found Bale, just inside his own half. Bale went into overdrive, raced to the byline and delivered the glorious gilt-edged low cross which the onrushing Crouch just could not miss.
It was his fifth goal of the season – and all in Europe.
Tottenham made sure of the points with Bale creating the goal running another 50 yards at full pelt to set up another tap-in, this time for Pavlyuchenko a minute before the end.
TOTTENHAM (4-4-1-1): Cudicini; Hutton, Gallas, Kaboul, Assou-Ekotto; Lennon (Palacios 85), Modric, Huddlestone, Bale; Van der Vaart (Jenas 46); Crouch (Pavlyuchenko 76). Booked: Hutton, Modric. Goals: Van der Vaart 18, Crouch 61, Pavlyuchenko 89.
