Peter Crouch sealed a famous and well-earned victory in a heated San Siro environment as Spurs secured a 1-0 advantage going into the second leg at White Hart Lane next month.

Crouch benefitted from a lung-busting, 60-yard run from Man of the Match Aaron Lennon to slot in the 80th-minute goal which proved the winner.

Unfortunately, the gloss was taken off the night when Gennaro Gattuso, known for his feisty attitude and battling qualities, lost his temper...in a big way.

Following a poor tackle from Mathieu Flamini just after the interval which put Vedran Corluka in hospital, Gattuso picked a fight with Tottenham assistant coach Joe Jordan and then picked up a yellow card which will rule him out of the return match at White Hart Lane.

As the final whistle blew, Gattuso again confronted Joe Jordan and headbutted the Scot, an action which will land him in hot water with UEFA.

But these scenes should not detract from a fine performance, with the win guaranteed once the referee, who played his part in a largely fluid and entertaining contest, disallowed a last-minute leveller from Swede Zlatan Ibrahimovic for a push in the box.

In a less lively encounter in Valencia, it was advantage Schalke as Raul's goal ruled out Soldado's early opener.

Can injury-plagued Spurs hang on to this remarkable scoreline to gain a huge advantage in their quest to reach the last eight?

There look likely to be at least FIVE minutes of stoppage time following that nasty injury earlier in the half to Corluka and the spate of substitutions that succeeded.

But Milan are already running out of ideas as Ibrahimovic blasts widely over the bar from a long way out.

Aduriz has caused Schalke many problems tonight and nearly wins the game for Valencia but Raul looks most likely to settle the tie in the dying moments and is twice denied by Neuer.

Although we have only had three goals tonight, the games have certainly not been short on incidents.

Unsurprisingly, given the larger size of the San Siro pitch and the pressure the home team has exerted for long periods, Spurs are looking weary.

And, in a confusing finale, Ibrahimovic has his hooked goal ruled out rightly for a push.

Disgracefully, the match ends on a sour note as Gattuso shakes Redknapp's hand after the final whistle confirms Tottenham's victory and proceeds to headbutt Joe Jordan in the Spurs dugout—the Italian could face a lengthy ban for his appalling behaviour.

''Rino'' Gattuso stoked up the Milan crowd with every wag of the finger, confrontation and fierce tackle and he will miss the return leg after being booked for a foul on Wilson Palacios.

But he will not mind too much if his team turn their territorial and pyschological domination in the second half into an advantage.

Looking to arrest the home team's progression up the pitch, Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has brought on Luka Modric and Niko Kranjcar for Van der Vaart and Stephen Pienaar.

Unbelievable Jurado is already looking to waste time in Valencia and his books for his antics.

And Spurs have a shock lead. What a headline!

Aaron Lennon, full of beans tonight, breaks quickly from his half following a Milan corner and beats two players. When he squares the ball to Peter Crouch, the gangly frontman has the simplest of tasks: a tap-in to an open goal from eight yards.

Scores as they stand: AC Milan 0-1 Tottenham Hotspur; Valencia 1-1 FC Schalke

Massimo Cebrelli/Getty Images

Spurs started the second half strongly in the San Siro as Rafael Van der Vaart almost added to his burgeoning reputation with a sublime chip, which sailed inches wide of Amelia's post.

Just minutes later, Gennaro Gattuso, AC Milan's dogged central midfielder, brought out a flying save from Heurelho Gomes at the other end. And it soon became clear that Milan's three-pronged attack—with Brazilian attacker Pato replacing Dutch midfielder Seedorf at the interval—was starting to unsettle Tottenham's defence.

In the 54th minute, ex-Arsenal man Mathieu Flamini disgracefully lunges at Vedran Corluka, who writhes around in discomfort. Unbelievably, the referee only brandishes a yellow card...and Johnathan Woodgate, once also of Real Madrid although not remembered in the same way as Raul, comes on for his first action for nearly a year.

The cauldron is bubbling, as Gattuso (pictured) has a lot to say following the aftermath of that Flamini challenge and pushes Spurs assistant coach Joe Jordan in the face!

Milan are turning up the heat as Gomes saves a point-blank Yepes header.

In Spain, lively forward Aduriz tested German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, a long-term transfer target for Manchester United.

And Neuer's block now looks important as Raul memorably marks his return to Spain with an equaliser for Schalke. 1-1 in Spain!

Michael Steele/Getty Images

Although the possession in Italy is 50-50 and Tottenham have had more shots on goal, it seems that the Rossoneri are in the ascendancy and beanpole Crouch is cutting an increasingly frustrated figure.

However, stand-in midfielders Sandro and Palacios are putting in very gritty performances in midfield for Harry Redknapp and the English club will certainly be more happy with the 0-0 scoreline. And Van der Vaart almost provides the perfect tonic with a rising shot which is saved acrobatically by Marco Amelia.

With Defoe, Kranjcar, Modric and Pavlyuchenko all providing attacking options from the bench, Milan coach Allegri will need to produce some strong words in the home dressing room. Jankulovski can still provide more width and Pato more speed from the bench.

Valencia end the first half on top at home and looking for an early goal in the second period to build some momentum towards the final whistle. Will Huntelaar (pictured) rue his awful miss?

Intriguing second halves brought to you here very soon—stay with us and feel free to comment on the game.

Valencia forward Roberto Soldado, once of Real Madrid, has fired the home team in front at the Mestalla with a simple but well-worked seventeenth-minute, close-range finish from a Jeremy Mathieu centre.

But Schalke are still playing good football and almost reply very soon after, with Peer Kluge's header tipped onto the bar.

In Milan, home goalkeeper Abbiati has picked up a neck injury and been replaced by Amelia.

The home side have settled down and looked dangerous when Ibrahimovic has received the ball, but Spurs have recorded the only shots on target. No repeat of the nervous shambles that typified the Londoners' first-half display on their last visit to this stadium.

Although Milan are starting to control possession, the visitors still look the hungrier and have been able to rough up the Italians with a more robust approach to proceedings.

Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Are Tottenham looking lightweight in midfield or is it Milan who will suffer from an obvious lack of width?

Will Valencia's passionate home supporters spur them to a big win or can Schalke's firepower silence the Mestalla? We'll soon find out!

There is very early controversy in Milan as Spurs appeal for a handball in the first minute following a swift passing move. However, the decision might have been harsh.

Spurs looked to play balls into the box to Peter Crouch, who caused numerous problems early in the game but was not presented with a good enough opportunity to score.

Lennon is finding good space down the right side and Spurs look likely to open the scoring in a quiet stadium.

In Valencia, there was a quiet start to the game, with neither team able to get hold of the ball and keep it long enough to get into any rhythm...until Huntelaar, untroubled and in space, misses an absolute sitter from six yards for Schalke! 

Valencia (4-4-2):

Guaita; Miguel, Navarro, Ricardo Costa, Mathieu; Banega, Topal, Costa, Dominguez; Soldado, Aduriz.

Subs: Cesar, Bruno, Maduro, Joaquin, Vicente, Pablo, Jordi Alba

Schalke (4-4-2):

Neuer; Uchida, Howedes, Metzelder, Schmitz; Farfan, Kluge, Matip, Jurado; Raul, Huntelaar

Subs: Schober, Sarpei, Hao, Edu, Karimi, Gavranovic, Draxler

Schalke forward Raul:

''It certainly won't be easy but, personally, I've good memories from playing there...Valencia are a great team, but this is going to be a very even tie''.

Odds: Valencia 3/4; Schalke 4/1; Draw 11/4 

AC Milan (4-4-2):

Abbiati; Abate, Nesta, Yepes, Antonin; Gattuso, Thiago Silva, Flamini, Seedorf; Robinho, Ibrahimovic

Subs: Amelia, Alexandre Pato, Papasthathopoulos, Oddo, Jankulovski, Merkel, Legrottaglie

Spurs (4-4-1-1):

Gomes; Corluka, Gallas, Dawson, Assou-Ekotto; Lennon, Palacios, Sandro, Pienaar; Van der Vaart; Crouch

Subs: Cudicini, Bassong, Woodgate, Kranjcar, Modric, Defoe, Pavlyuchenko

Spurs coach Harry Redknapp:

''We can score here. We can't afford to make the same mistakes (as we made against Internazionale) and can't start like that again. But as far as shutting up shop goes it's non-starter because we don't have the players here''

Odds: AC Milan 7/10; Spurs 4/1; more than 2.5 goals in the game 37/40