New signing Roberto Soldado proved there is life without Gareth Bale by giving Tottenham Hotspur a 1-0 win at Crystal Palace in their opener yesterday.
Bale, strongly linked with a move to Real Madrid, was absent with a foot injury, but a 50th-minute penalty from 26 million pounds club record signing Soldado meant Spurs did not miss him.
Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas gave league debuts to Soldado, Paulinho and Nacer Chadli, and his side largely controlled the first half beneath bright summer sunshine at Selhurst Park.u00a0
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