Harry Kane Scores, Leads Tottenham Past Real Madrid in 2019 Audi Cup Semi-Final

Tottenham Hotspur reached the final of the 2019 Audi Cup after beating Real Madrid 1-0 at Bayern Munich's Allianz Arena on Tuesday.

Harry Kane struck the winner in the first half for the Lilywhites to help them see off a disappointing Madrid team. By contrast, Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino fielded a strong lineup featuring Kane, Dele Alli and new midfield powerhouse Tanguy Ndombele.

Spurs will now face either tournament hosts Bayern or Fenerbahce, who meet later today, in the final on Wednesday.

The result continues a miserable pre-season for Los Blancos, who drew a blank in front of goal after conceding seven times against local rivals Atletico Madrid in the 2019 International Champions Cup on Saturday.

Real's ongoing sluggish form was duly punished on 22 minutes when an off-the-pace Eden Hazard played an errant pass that left-back Marcelo couldn't control. The gaffe put Kane in and he was coolness personified as he lifted a cute finish over Keylor Navas.

Spurs stayed in control after going in front, with Erik Lamela and Ndombele catching the eye in midfield. The latter drove forward at will and wasn't afraid to take on shots from distance.

Meanwhile, Lamela was showcasing the vision and flair seldom seen during his largely inconsistent Tottenham career. The Argentinian winger slid an inch-perfect pass to play Kane in, but this time the striker shot straight at Navas.

Real's struggles were best summed up by how often Navas was called into action. He saved well to deny Heung-Min Son and Alli as the Madrid defence continued to look vulnerable.

Things weren't any better at the other end as Hazard fluffed his lines after being played in by Marcelo. Hazard is already under the spotlight amid reports he returned for preseason duty overweight, according to Sport.

Hazard's struggles were only part of a growing list of problems for Los Merengues:

While Madrid toiled, Tottenham continued to look fresher and sharper, even after Pochettino introduced some young charges off the bench. One of the youngsters, 17-year-old forward Troy Parrott, struck the post in the final five minutes.

Real's best moments also came from youth, with 18-year-old Rodrygo Goes having a goal chalked off for offside, while Takefusa Kubo, also 18, drew Hugo Lloris into a pair of smart saves.

Based on this evidence, Spurs are far more prepared for the rigours of a new season than Madrid. Manager Zinedine Zidane needs to coax more from his new signings, particularly Hazard, and find a way to fully integrate the precocious talents knocking on the first-team door.

What's Next?

Tottenham will be in the final at 7:30 p.m. BST/2:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Real will contest the third-place play-off at 5 p.m. BST/12 p.m. ET.