UEFA CUP Group B: Leverkusen 0 Tottenham 1

Dimitar Berbatov scored the winner against his former club Bayer Leverkusen to send Tottenham into the knockout stages of the UEFA Cup.

The 25-year-old tapped in after 35 minutes in the teeming rain at the BayArena, the stadium where he built his reputation before moving to White Hart Lane for £10.9million in the summer.

He had previously talked of his loyalty and closeness to the German club and he barely acknowledged the strike, leaving the celebrating to Spurs' noisy travelling support.

In keeping with his mixed start with his new club - he has now scored four in the UEFA Cup but only against Sheffield United in the Barclays Premiership - he missed an open goal in the second half before receiving a standing ovation from both sets of fans when he was substituted with 13 minutes remaining.

The Bulgaria international's goal kept Spurs' 100 percent record going in the competition and they are now top of group B with a match remaining.

The Germans, however, face a fight for one of the top-three positions for qualification and despite hitting the post through Bernd Schneider, lacked the presence of a Berbatov-style forward.

Berbatov had been hailed by Michael Skibbe prior to the match, the Leverkusen boss describing him as one of the best strikers in the world, and the Spurs signing was at the heart of the visitors' promising attacks.

He was caught a shade offside early on when Didier Zokora broke forward and chipped over the top, then after six minutes he was behind the defence but his cross was easily cut out by goalkeeper Jorg Butt.

He has also developed an understanding with Robbie Keane - a partnership which blossomed against Belgian side Club Bruges in their previous group match - and they caused the hosts problems with their movement, although the conditions hindered passing.

A set play was an easier route to goal for Spurs and Berbatov headed over the crossbar when his strike partner's hard work forced a corner which he floated over.

Berbatov forced Butt into the first save of the match, in the 33rd minute, when he collected the ball from Zokora, turned and fired a 25-yard drive which was parried before Juan headed back to his goalkeeper.

But the Bulgarian opened the scoring two minutes later, finishing from close range after Aaron Lennon, returning to the starting XI after a knee injury, had seen a shot parried after being played in by Keane's clever reverse pass.

Berbatov could have doubled the lead when Butt came rushing out three minutes later but failed to clear and collided with a defender, but the Spurs striker dwelled on the ball and the chance was gone.

The hosts, forced to make a change in the 16th minute when Swiss youngster Tranquillo Barnetta picked up a knock and was replaced by Pirmin Schwegler, still offered a threat but found clear opportunities difficult to create.

Andrej Voronin flashed wide late in the first half but Paul Robinson was not forced into a save in the first half, despite Leverkusen enjoying their share of possession.

The hosts replaced Stefan Kiessling with Paul Freier at the break, and the substitute was fortunate not to be booked for chopping down Zokora in the opening exchanges of the second half.

Berbatov was played through in the 49th minute by Steed Malbranque as Spurs swept forward, but he slipped as he looked to cut inside on his left foot and Gonzalo Castro was able to clear.

Robinson was forced into his first save of the match, in the 53rd minute, when Simon Rolfes broke forward and played in Freier, but the England goalkeeper saved with his legs.

It marked a busy period for Robinson, and he made a much easier stop from the resulting corner as Sergej Barbarez's header lacked power.

Robinson was called upon again four minutes later when Rolfes again passed to Freier, whose pull-back found Voronin in plenty of space but his effort was saved.

At the other end, Berbatov missed his open goal when he failed to connect with Keane's cross from the left.

Keane was found in a similar position in the 65th minute by Lennon but this time went for goal and forced Butt into a save.

In the next attack, the hosts hit the post through Schneider's drilled long-range effort, with the ball bouncing to safety.

Voronin forced Robinson into a save with 20 minutes remaining, while Keane's mazy run at the other end was only just blocked, and Spurs held on for the points.