AS Champions League nights go for English teams, Tuesday was a pretty good one.
So often are the English teams criticised for not being able to perform on the European stage but Manchester City, Liverpool and Tottenham all pulled off impressive results.
While Liverpool and Manchester City managed wins against Maribor and Napoli respectively, Tottenham’s trip to Real Madrid was arguably the biggest achievement of the night.
Tottenham stunned the Bernabeu crowd in the 28th minute as the visitors took the lead through a Raphael Varane own goal.
Harry Kane, who had been the subject of discussion from Zinedine Zidane ahead of the game, looked to claim the opener but Serge Aurier’s cross took a final touch off the Madrid defender and into the back of the net.
The England international has been linked with a move to Spanish capital but one thing he’ll have to get used to should he ever follow in Gareth Bale’s footsteps is that the Bernabeu is Cristiano Ronaldo’s stage.
And the Portuguese delivered the goods when he converted from the penalty spot just before the break after Aurier fouled Toni Kroos inside the box.
Madrid gave it their all to break the Spurs defence in the second half but Hugo Lloris came to Tottenham’s rescue on numerous occasions including a brilliant stop from Karim Benzema.
Tottenham are now level on points with Madrid in Group H as Apoel Nicosia drew 1-1 with Borussia Dortmund in the other game.
Elsewhere in Europe, Liverpool humiliated minnows MK Maribor with a 7-0 thrashing.
Liverpool made Champions League history by recording the biggest margin of victory for an English club away from home in Europe’s elite club competition.
Unlike Saturday’s goalless draw against Manchester United, Liverpool showed their attacking intent from the off in Slovenia.
They netted three goals in the first 19 minutes as Roberto Firmino, Philippe Coutinho and Mohamed Salah all struck early.
Egyptian Salah added his second and Liverpool’s fourth on the stroke of half-time before Firmino doubled his tally in the second half with a deft header.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Trent Alexander-Arnold both joined the party late on to send Liverpool second in the qualifying group, level on points with CSKA Moscow, who beat Sevilla 5-1.
Back in England, Manchester City showed no signs of slowing up in their relentless start to the campaign.
Two early goals from Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus in the space of 13 minutes looked like City were well on their way to replicating their seven goal tally from the weekend.
But Napoli ensured they didn’t suffer the same fate as Stoke by even managing to claw one back on 73 minutes.
City held on though to ensure they made it three wins from three in Group F.
It’s now over to Chelsea and Manchester United tomorrow night to ensure the English teams continue to strike fear across Europe.