FC Barcelona vs Tottenham Hotspur, Joan Gamper Trophy: Match Report
Lamine Yamal shines in Barca’s debut fixture at the Estadio Olímpico as FC Barcelona win comfortably. The Harry Kane-less London side fail to beat FC Barcelona despite first half brilliance from 22-year-old midfielder Oliver Skipp.
First Half:
FC Barcelona got off to a good start with Raphinha neatly finding Robert Lewandowski at the back post for a left-footed volley to open up the scoring at the Estadio Olímpico. However, momentum shifted after Olilver Skipp levelled things up for Spurs following a cross from Sergio Reguilón into the box where a shot from Lo Celso comes off the post perfectly into the feet of the midfielder.
After 30 minutes Ronald Araujo asks to come off despite not appearing to receive any knock, but it may be that the player is being precautious as Barcelona begin their LaLiga campaign against Getafe on Sunday 13th August and will need him in defence.
Roberto is forced to come in to fill in the right-back slot and later Croatian winger, Ivan Perišić, puts in a peach for a flying Skipp to head in his second goal of the game. His late run into the box was poorly tracked by Barca midfielder, Frenkie De Jong, who leaves the Spurs midfielder unmarked for the easy header.
Second Half:
Tottenham Hotspur carry on their dominance into the second half, forcing Barca to defend who can’t seem to put combinations together. Noticing this Xavi makes eight changes in the second half bringing on Ansu Fati, Ferran Torres, Iñaki Peña, İlkay Gündoğan, Abde Ezzalzouli, Marcos Alonso, Lamine Yamal and Fermín López.
The fresh set of legs help push the Blaugrana side to make a comeback and win the game 4-2, but the credit must go to 16-year-old Barca talent, Lamine Yamal. The youngster in just 10 minutes tees up the leveller for Ferran Torres, skillfully gets past Sergio Regilion to find Torres in space who assists Ansu Fati for the third, and is involved in the build up for Barca’s fourth.
Lamine Yamal is arguably Barca’s man of the match who makes an instant impact off of the bench, and may have scrambled Xavi’s heads as to who starts on the right hand side come matchday one.
Barcelona now look to begin their LaLiga season against Getafe on Sunday 13th August 20:30, while Tottenham visit Brentford for their Premier League opener on the same day at 14:00.
