UEFA Champions Youth League, Group B, Round 5
       Hotspur Way, Whitewebbs Lane, Enfield
          Tuesday 26th November 2019, 2pm

   Tottenham Hotspur       v        Olympiacos FC
      (All White)                     (All Blue)
        4-1-4-1                         4-2-3-1

          1(0)                            0(0)

Tottenham:– Oluwayemi; Eyoma, Cirkin, Bowden(C)(Pochettino 85), Binks, Walcott, Markanday(Maghoma 69), Oakley-Boothe, Parrott(Richards 90+2), White, Bennett.

Unused Subs:- Lo-Tutala; Lusala, Muir, Robson

Scorer:– Parrott 56

Booked:– Eyoma 14(Foul), Cirkin 63(Holding), Parrott 73(Late)

Coach:– John McDermott

Olympiacos:– Tzolakis, Freris, Gkotzamanidis, Boskouidis(Aslanidis 75), Voilis(C)(Bullari 75), Martinis(Tselios 65), Arsenidis, Fekkas(Ntotis 83), Neofytidis, Nikolis, Sourlis(Katsavakis 75)

Unused Subs:- Stournaras, Liatsos

Booked:– Martinis 65(Late)

Coach:– Antonios Nicopolidis

Attendance:– 253

Referee:– Peter Kjaesgaard(DEN)
Assistants:– Christian Brixen & Jacob Mastrup(DEN)
Fourth Official:– David Rock(ENG)

It was a warm if wet afternoon for the visit of Greek side Olympiacos to Hotspur Way for the bottom two clubs in the group. Spurs need to win both of their remaining games to hope to qualify out of the group. Spurs were held to a draw out in Athens having looked on top when they had taken the lead through Parrott but a mistake at the back let the home side grab a point. Spurs lost their last group game in Belgrade 2-0 to Red Star which gave the Serbian side the advantage to finish second in the group.

Spurs lined up with Oluwayemi in goal behind Walcott and Binks with Eyoma at right back and Cirkin on the left. Bowden anchored the midfield with Oakley-Boothe and White ahead of him. They were flanked by Markanday on the right and Bennett on the left in support of Parrott up front. On the bench were players from Saturday's defeat at Newcastle in the PL U-18 Cup hoping to play in the better conditions on the first team training pitch.

Spurs kicked off the first half attacking the South end against a solid and determined Olympiacos defence which gave little away. Bennett crossed for Markanday to fire wide early in what turned into a tight game of few chances. Eyoma was booked battling for the ball with Martinis who brought out a good save from Oluwayemi in Olympiacos's first attack minutes after. From the resultant corner Nikolis fired wide.

White played in Parrott to fire wide before the Spurs striker forced a save from Tzolakis. Cirkin had an effort from outside the area which was saved by Tzolakis to his left. Markanday had another chance from a Bennett cross that he headed wide before the break. With both defences on top it was looking like a single goal would win it if any side could score.

There were no changes for the start of the second half which saw a remarkable save by Tzolakis to keep out White. Parrott had dropped deep to get the ball and sent it to the far post for the advancing White to hit a yard out but the keeper pushed the ball over the bar.

Voilis headed over from a corner before a long range effort by Bowden was saved by Tzolakis. The deadlock was finally broken when Eyoma laid the ball off to Parrott on the edge of the area. The striker hit the ball first time on the turn and it curled into the near side top corner giving the keeper no chance.

Spurs sought to build on the goal and Parrott headed wide from a corner. Olympiacos tried to respond and Cirkin was booked for stopping a break. Martinis was booked for a foul as Oakley-Boothe got past him and was immediately taken off. Spurs made their first change replacing Markanday with Maghoma who played inside Oakley-Boothe.

Maghoma had a chance following a good run by Cirkin that was hit over the bar. Parrott was booked for a foul on Arsenidis before the visitors made a triple change in search of a goal. Tzolakis for a second time denied White when he tipped over a dipping effort from twenty yards. Bowden had another effort from distance that flew over before he was replaced by Pochettino who went to the right flank with White anchoring the midfield. The captain's armband went to Eyoma. Spurs were able to see out the game with Parrot making way for Richards in added time.

This was a very tight game with few chances in the first half and there was a danger that the visitors might pinch a goal but Spurs continued to push and probe. Olympiacos did keep them at arm's length for much of the time forcing Spurs to shoot from range. Red Star drew 1-1 with Bayern Munich in the other match to retain second place. A win in Munich may not be enough to finish second as can be seen from the table.

                  P  W  D  L   F-A   GD  Pts
FC Bayern Munich  5  3  2  0  15-2   13  11
FK Crvena Zvezda  5  2  2  1   7-11  -4   8
Tottenham Hotspur 5  2  1  2  12-9    3   7
Olympiacos FC     5  0  1  4   2-14 -12   1

Ray

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