Wigan Athletic 0 // Tottenham 0
WIGAN // Some say it is Tottenham Hotspur's biggest game in Europe since the 1984 Uefa Cup final. Others, citing the primacy of the competition, argue it is the most important since the meeting with Benfica in the semi-finals of the 1962 European Cup.
Either way, Tuesday's trip to Real Madrid assumes a seismic place in Spurs' history.
A visit to Wigan Athletic is rarely described in such terms, but this is a week of extraordinary extremes for Harry Redknapp: first one of the Premier League's smallest clubs, then arguably the world's biggest. Yet in the final reckoning, Wigan may prove as significant.
A failure to beat a side headed for relegation makes an immediate return to the Champions League less likely. They have taken up residence in fifth place and no longer look upwardly mobile. If they are not the architects of their undoing, the minnows may be.
The trip to Wigan followed encounters with Blackpool, Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Ham United. It was a run that, on paper, offered opportunity in abundance. It brought a meagre reward, however, with just three points procured and fourth position surrendered in the intervening period.
The term stalemate is all too accurate. There was an unusual sterility to Tottenham. With Gareth Bale injured and Rafael van der Vaart off colour, only Luka Modric of their major talents exerted an influence.
"We didn't create nearly enough in the final third," Redknapp said. "We didn't play well and I didn't enjoy the game. I just didn't think we passed the ball as we normally do. I thought we could cause them some problems but we didn't, really."
Disappointment does not diminish his gift for a one-liner and, typically, Redknapp quipped: "I think the Real Madrid scout has gone home scared stiff."
Spurs were fortunate to retreat to London with a point. They survived three major alarms, the first a product of Victor Moses's ability to beat a man. His precise, low cross was pushed out by Huerelho Gomes into the path of the advancing Hugo Rodallega. But for Michael Dawson's powers of anticipation, it would have been a goal; instead Tottenham's captain blocked brilliantly when the Colombian shot.
Helped by his defence then, Tottenham's goalkeeper rescued his side twice later. From a well-worked move, Charles N'Zogbia found Tom Cleverley, whose curling, goal-bound effort was clawed wide by the elastic Gomes.
Then, with two minutes remaining, Conor Sammon was clear on goal; Gomes denied him, too.
"I couldn't be prouder of the players today," said Roberto Martinez, the Wigan manager. "They were fantastic tactically."
It was, however, a sadly typical story for Wigan. The division's basement side have attracted plaudits for both their style of play and the creativity within their ranks. They possess menace on the flanks, even if their efforts tend to be undermined by the absence of an out-and-out goalscorer.
The absence of an end product may condemn them to the second tier, despite an improvement at the back. Said Martinez: "Defensively, the whole team kept Spurs very, very quiet."
They were aided by Redknapp's tactics. There was a lack of width with Van der Vaart and Modric, the nominal wingers, veering infield. Wigan were able to defend narrowly, tucking their full-backs in to congest space.
Lacking an outlet on the flanks, Tottenham were limited to long-range shots: Jermaine Jenas's effort drew a parry from Ali al Habsi while the Omani goalkeeper held Van der Vaart's curling effort and Peter Crouch's header.
After such low-calibre fare, Spurs needed good news. Redknapp provided it by announcing reinforcements are being readied. "Gareth Bale should be fit [for the Real Madrid game]," he said. And how he will be needed.
