The 27 Champions League hurdles Spurs overcame to reach the semi finals

Tottenham Hotspur are Champions League semi-finalists for the first time in their history thanks to three away goals at the Etihad last night.

Spurs will now play Ajax in the semis for the right to reach the final in June.

However, it hasn’t all been plain sailing for Spurs in the Champions League.

Here is a comprehensive list of every major hurdle Pochettino and his boys have had to overcome in the competition:

1. The stadium – Spurs were forced to play their first eight Champions League games away from home (Wembley)
2. Group of death – Tottenham were drawn against Barcelona, Inter Milan, and PSV, despite being seeded in pot 2
3. Heartbreak on matchday 1 – Despite dominating away to Inter Milan, two goals in the last five minutes saw Inter take all three points
4. The Messi show – Despite Spurs putting up a good fight, Lionel Messi had one of his best ever Champions League games at Wembley
5. PSV – Tottenham then drew away to PSV, all but ending their Champions League dream
6. 1 point – Spurs were left with just one point after three group stage games, with qualification for the knockouts extremely unlikely
7. PSV again – PSV scored at Wembley after two minutes, and Spurs were still behind with 12 minutes to go. They then scored two in ten minutes to secure all three points
8. Inter again – Tottenham left it late again in matchday 5, scoring in the final ten minutes to take three points off Inter
9. Spurs went into their away fixture against Barcelona needing to match Inter Milan’s result against PSV. Tottenham went behind early at the Nou Camp but fought back to secure a draw that was just about enough to see them through (Thanks PSV!)
10. The draw – Spurs were then drawn against the German League leaders Borussia Dortmund, one of the in-form European sides
11. Delays – Further stadium delays meant Tottenham would be forced to play at Wembley
12. Kane – Tottenham would also be without Harry Kane for the match after he sustained an ankle ligament injury
13. Alli – Spurs would also be without Dele Alli through injury
14. Sonny – Son had just returned from his spell away with South Korea
15. The draw again – Tottenham beat Dortmund 4-0 over two legs, but were then drawn against the Premier League champions Man City
16. VAR – Man City were awarded a controversial VAR penalty in the first leg after an apparent Danny Rose handball
17. Kane again – Harry Kane then suffered another ankle ligament injury in the first leg, ruling him out for the rest of the season
18. Alli again – Dele Alli also suffered a broken hand during the game
19. Sterling – Raheem Sterling scored in the first few minutes of the away leg, wiping out Tottenham’s advantage
20. Man City – After Spurs clawed back two away goals, Man City immediately found a route back into the match via a heavily and cruelly deflected Bernardo Silva shot
21. City again – The Citizens eventually went 4-2 up on the night, and it looked all over for Tottenham
22. Sissoko – Moussa Sissoko was forced off injured, meaning Spurs had to change their shape and game plan
23. VAR – Tottenham fans had their hearts stopped as Llorente’s crucial third away goal went to VAR for a suspected handball, but Tottenham were awarded the goal
24. Onslaught – Tottenham then spent 20 minutes camped inside their own half defending for their lives
25. Sterling again – Raheem Sterling then broke Tottenham hearts by scoring a 92nd minute winner to send Man City through to the semis, however it was eventually ruled out for offside
26. Injuries – Spurs now face a race against time to get their injured stars back for Ajax, with Winks, Dier, Aurier, Kane, Sissoko, and Lamela all still out
27. And the most significant hurdle – Everyone had written Spurs off

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