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UEFA Champions League- Tottenham 2 Barcelona 4 - Match Report
Messi grabs a brace as Barca maintain perfect start in the Champions League with a 4-2 win over Tottenham
Mitch Freeley
Ivan Rakitic scored a wonderful volley and Lionel Messi struck twice to inspire Barcelona to a thrilling 4-2 win at Tottenham in the Champions League.
Philippe Coutinho took only 92 seconds to give Barca the lead at Wembley on Wednesday, with Rakitic's unstoppable 25-yarder doubling the Catalan side's first-half advantage.
Harry Kane's 10th Champions League goal gave Spurs hope and, although Messi soon put Barca 3-1 up, Erik Lamela struck to set up a grandstand finish.
Ernesto Valverde's men had failed to win their last three games and looked nervy in the closing stages, but Messi capitalised on poor defending in the last minute to ensure his team join Inter on maximum points after two games in Group B.
Hugo Lloris was playing for the first time since August after recovering from a thigh injury but the Tottenham captain's mistake contributed to Barca's second-minute opener.
Messi produced a gorgeous ball to send Jordi Alba scampering clear down the left channel and, with Lloris having raced out and left his goal unmarked, the left-back squared for Coutinho to tuck away his first Barca goal in the Champions League.
The visitors, returning to Wembley for the first time since lifting the Champions League there in 2011, extended their lead in stunning fashion soon after Kane had Spurs' first shot.
Coutinho performed a minor miracle to keep the ball in play on the byline with Rakitic launching himself into a sensational 20-yard volley that clipped the post on its way into Lloris' net.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen made a great save to keep out a Son Heung-min cross that sharply deflected off Gerard Pique, who was making his 100th Champions League appearance, and Messi hit the post twice in five minutes after the restart before Kane gave Spurs a lifeline.
A long throw from Lloris set up a counter, with Lamela feeding Kane to turn Nelson Semedo and bend a fine finish into Ter Stegen's bottom-left corner.
Messi would not miss again, though, sending Alba clear down the left with a trademark curling pass and timing his run into the box perfectly to slot a first-time finish past Lloris to restore Barca's two-goal lead four minutes later.
Lamela's deflected strike wrongfooted Ter Stegen and ensured a fantastic finale but, with Spurs committing men forward, Alba seized on a loose pass to set up Messi to sweep home his second.
Goals & Highlights
89- Goal! Game over! Messi scores his second of the match! 4-2 Barca!
66- Lamela scores for Spurs, via a deflection! 3-2 Game on! That's the 8,000 goal in the Champions League!
56- Goal! Barca take a 3-1 lead! Who else but Leo Messi!
52- Goal! Kane pulls Spurs back into the contest! 2-1 Game on!
28- Goal! Rakitic with a peach of a goal! Barcelona double their lead! 2-0!
2- Goal! Coutinho from distance! A fine strike!
Live Updates!
Preamble
Now for Barca! Messi and Suarez start upfront. Clément Lenglet replaces the suspended Samuel Umtiti.
💪 Barça XI
🔵🔴 #SpursBarça pic.twitter.com/jd36JV9VOz — FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) October 3, 2018
Team News! First up Tottenham! Hugo Loris is back after recovering from injury, Harry Winks also starts in midfield. Who else but Harry Kane leads the line for the Lilywhites.
#THFC: Lloris (C), Trippier, Alderweireld, Sanchez, Davies, Wanyama, Winks, Lucas, Lamela, Son, Kane.
Latest @WilliamHill odds - https://t.co/2JP0S9zEYd pic.twitter.com/uyXBmKFSkE — Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) October 3, 2018
Hello! Welcome to the Live Updates of Tottenham Vs Barcelona! Can Spurs get the better of the Catalans at Wembley? Barca have won the Champions League twice at the home of English football will they come away with a famous result? These questions and so much more should be answered in the next few hours! Stick around!
Preview!
Tottenham will be looking to register their first points in the Champions League this season but will have a tough task on their hands when they welcome Barcelona to their tempory home of Wembley on Wednesday evening. As ever, you can watch all the action on beIN SPORTS CONNECT.
Spurs were stunned 2-1 by Inter Milan in their opening game of the Champions League, with the Italian giants scoring twice in the final five minutes to cancel out Christian Eriksen’s opening. Now Tottenham will be hoping to get the better of the five-time European Cup winners who have not picked up a win in their last three league outings.
In team news, the quartet of Christian Eriksen, Dele Alli, Jan Vertonghen and Mousa Dembele will miss the game. However, Hugo Loris should be fit after recovering from a thigh injury.
Key Man
After two goals at the weekend, Harry Kane has refound his form in front of goal and will be the main man for Spurs against Barca. Talking before the game, Kane spoke of emulating the scoring of Leo Messi suggesting that the diminutive Argentinian “sets the standard” for strikers around. There would be no better place for the 25-year old to stake his claim against Barca’s famous number ten under the lights at Wembley.
Tottenham Predicted Team- Lloris; Trippier, Sanchez, Alderweireld, Rose; Dier, Winks; Lamela, Moura, Son; Kane.
Kick-Off- 22:00
Channel- 11 HD
Online- beIN SPORTS CONNECT
Stadium- Wembley
Barca currently top B thanks to a 4-0 win over PSV in match-day one. The Catalans have sputtered in recent weeks in La Liga dropping points to Girona, Leganes and Athletico Bilbao. So the Champions League represents a welcome break away for Ernesto Valverde’s side.
In team news, World Cup-winning centre-back Samuel Umtiti is suspended and will miss out on the game. Summer signing Clement Lenglet is set to come in for Umtiti. Sergi Roberto is an injury doubt so expect Nelson Semedo to come in at right-back.
Key Man
Ousmane Dembele could be the player to watch out for on Wednesday evening. The French winger is widely expected to line up in a front three with Leo Messi and Luis Suarez. The attacker has five goals in thirteen appearances this season and will be looking to break on the attack as Spurs will look to press their opponents high up the pitch.
Barcelona Predicted Team- Ter Stegen; Semedo, Pique, Lenglet, Alba; Rakitic, Busquets, Coutinho; Messi, Suarez, Dembele.
It certainly promises to be an interesting encounter as Spurs take on Barcelona. You can watch all the action on 11 HD & beIN SPORTS CONNECT.