In the end it was a party spoiled not by an unpopular magician but a bumbling clown. Christiano Ronaldo may have been the man to silence the effervescent White Hart Lane crowd on a night Spurs were seeking European redemption, but it was Heurelho Gomes who dealt the blow that finally derailed their Champions League campaign.

But Wednesday night at the Lane shouldn’t be a night remembered for a goalkeeping error. Harry Redknapp will be left to decide if the Brazilian’s shot stopping ability is worth the infrequent but frequently costly errors, but for the Spurs faithful it will go down in history, not as the night a spirited team succumbed to a European giant, but as the night they realised they belong.

On a night where all the luck in the world needed to find its way to North London, there was little to be found. On a night where chances needed to be seized they were at times criminally wasteful, especially the enigmatic Roman Pavlyuchenko.

Yet Spurs were able to do to their illustrious rivals what few others would be able to –outplay them. As ever pace on the wings did most of the damage, with Aaron Lennon and Gareth Bale seemingly a package gift wrapped for Barcelona as they tormented a Real Madrid side with five players on the brink of suspension.

And what a delight it was to see Tom Huddlestone playing once more. His passing accuracy and his control at the base of the midfield was outstanding against a midfield with two sitting midfielders ready to pounce and take advantage of his lack of match fitness. Like an American football quarter back, he sat and released his wide runners expertly, and achieved what Spurs were unable to do in the first leg; maintain possession then use it to devastating effect. Of course Spurs fans will wonder what might had been if any of the three penalty appeals had been given in the first half. In reality, progress was never likely against a side managed by the Champions League maestro Jose Mourinho – his sides are just too professional. But they will take away plenty of heart as they go in search of similar experiences next season.

Tottenham will now be gasping for the oxygen that these electric European nights bring. Being able to excel in one tournament does not guarantee anything, and they must now ensure this type of night is a regular occurrence.

Spurs fans, so vocal until the very end, will be proud of the performance, and of the team in general. The watching live football crowd would have been dumbstruck by the noise generated by the Spurs crowd, and Mourihno nodded his head in approval, confirming his love affair with the English game. Now Redkanpp must seize the momentum this fighting defeat brings. All eyes are on White Hart Lane now, they must prove they are no flash in the pan.