Ronaldo isn't the top threat to Tottenham
A lot has been made in the Spanish press about Cristiano Ronaldo's formidable record against Tottenham, having won ten and drawn four of his 14 career meetings with the north Londoners and managed a respectable six goals in a dozen starts when facing them.
The Portuguese superstar is set to play in tonight's Champions League quarter-final first leg clash with Spurs at the Bernabeu despite Jose Mourinho reporting last week that he was unlikely to be available and the statistics above will tempt many to back him at [2.22] to net at any time.
An equally compelling case can be made to lay him at that price though as all of those results came for a Manchester United side that have dominated the Lilywhites over the last decade, while his current strike rate is close to a goal a game, so one in two against them isn't special by his standards.
Instead, it's one of his less illustrious team-mates, Emmanuel Adebayor, who has the most appetising odds to score at any stage at [2.88], and with Karim Benzema injured and Gonzalo Higuain not yet fully fit after a long-term layoff, the Togalese striker is almost certain to start.
His win rate versus Tottenham might not be as impressive as Ronaldo's having made all of his prior appearances for Arsenal and Manchester City teams that tended to have more at stake when the clubs collided, but that only serves to make his superior scoring record opposing them even more admirable.
The former Arsenal forward has fired eight times in ten starts against Harry Redknapp's men - and even was substituted before half-time in one of those - so will fancy his chances of grabbing his third goal since joining Real Madrid on loan from Manchester City this evening.
Will Adebayor deliver against Spurs once again? Have your say below...
Published: 5 Apr 2011
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