Champions Youth League, Group B, Game 6
   Mini Estadi, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
       Tuesday 11th December 2018, 4pm

   FC Barcelona 0(0) - 2(1) Tottenham Hotspur

Barcelona(4-3-3):– Tenas; Mingueza, Lopez, Sola(Bravo 74), Marsa, Gonzalez(Kourouma 46), Jesus, Orellana(C), De La Fuente(Serrano 82), Marques(Peque 46), Fati(Mortimer 82)

Unused Subs:– Bano, Jardi

Booked:– Mingueza 88(Foul on Roles)

Spurs(4-2-3-1):– Austin(C); Hinds, Eyoma, White, Cirkin; Bowden, Markanday(Binks 90+1), Oakley-Boothe, Maghoma(Shashoua 74), Roles, Parrott(Richards 88)

Unused Subs:- Oluwayemi, Clarke, Pochettino, Okedina

Scorers:– Parrott 17, Richards 90

Booked:– Oakley-Boothe 6, White 34(Foul on Fati), Cirkin 86(Time)

Attendance:- 870

Referee:– Antti Munukka(FIN)
Assistants:– Jukka Honkanon & Juuso Mantere(FIN)
Fourth Official:– Victor Verdura(ESP)

The last group game was away to Barcelona with Spurs needing to win to finish second and qualify for the play-off round, which is a one off game against the clubs that won their leagues but did not qualify for the Champions League plus last year's winners Chelsea. Spurs had been held to a 1-1 draw at Hotspur Way having started well. The last time Spurs played at Barcelona was in the NextGen Series when Spurs had a good 4-1 win.

Spurs lined up with Austin in goal behind Eyoma and White with Hinds on the right and Cirkin on the left. Bowden anchored the midfield with Oakley-Boothe and Maghoma ahead of him. They were flanked by Markanday on the right and Roles on the left in support of Parrott up front.

Spurs attacked the South end in the first half but due to problems getting in I missed the first ten minutes in which Oakley-Boothe was booked. As Barcelona play open attacking football it suited Spurs' style of passing football and the visitors got forward well limiting the home side's attack at the same time.

Maghoma drew a save having cut through the Spanish defence. The opening goal came from a good team move that saw Hinds get down the right and cross for Maghoma who instead of going for goal played it to the far post for Parrott to finish.

Maghoma played in Markanday to fire wide before the Spurs wideman had another chance blocked. The ball was quickly moved upfield by the Catalans and Marques' backheel opened up Fati for a chance that he put wide. Marsa had an effort over the bar before Parrott played in Maghoma to fire wide.

White was booked after he was turned by Fati who had a habit of diving at any contact which the ref got wise to quickly. Spurs went into the break having been the better side and we waited to see how Barcelona would respond in the second.

Barcelona made two changes for the start of the second half, but Spurs continued to have the better of the play with Parrott firing over from a pass by Oakley-Boothe. Parrott was then played in for a chance but Tenas saved at his feet with Markanday seeing his follow up blocked.

Tenas saved a header by Parrott from a White free kick. Kourouma drew a save from Austin and a deflected effort by Mingueza was also dealt with by the Spurs stopper. Parrott laid off for Roles but Tenas saved his effort while Kourouma fired over before Spurs made their first change. Shashoua replaced Maghoma in midfield while Barca made their third.

De La Fuente got down the right to present Fati with a great chance for the equaliser but the Barca man hit it wide. Barcelona took him off in the last changes they were allowed in a final effort to get back into the game. The referee decided that Spurs were time-wasting at a free kick and booked Cirkin but he also booked a home player finally when Mingueza ploughed into Roles.

Richards came on for Parrott as Spurs looked to see out time which turned out to be a masterstroke as in the last minute Tenas got a touch to Roles effort and Richards turned it in at the far post for Spurs' second to seal the win. Another change saw Binks come on for Markanday and deep into added time Kourouma had another effort saved by Austin to keep a clean sheet.

This was another good performance by Spurs who got on top and kept on top in both halves not letting Barcelona into the game as they did in their last meeting. Spurs' passing game was better and they mixed it up with some long balls to prevent the home side settling into any form of play. When a passing team like Barcelona cannot have the ball to pass they do do the rough stuff with three times the number of fouls that Spurs were pulled up for. But at least we can say that football won. Spurs now go into the play-off stage when they have an away game against a “Champions path” team. They avoid Chelsea but can meet Dinamo Zagreb, Dynamo Kiev, Hertha Berlin, Midtyjlland, Montpellier, PAOK or Sigma Olomouc in February.

Ray

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