Barcelona take centre stage at Wembley as they beat Spurs 4-2

Barcelona continued their perfect start in the Champions League by claiming all three points against Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley in an entertaining clash.

If nerves were going to be an issue for Barcelona after a poor run of form, Hugo Lloris was thankfully in a giving mood. The French keeper, back in the first eleven after an injury, needlessly ran out of goal which allowed Jordi Alba to simply pass it inside to Philippe Coutinho and he made no mistake. 1-0 up, two minutes in. Nerves settled.

Spurs began to find a way into the game a bit more but whenever Lionel Messi got on the ball, you sensed something special was about to happen. In midfield Sergio Busquets was giving a masterclass and young Arthur, the heir apparent to Xavi’s throne, was enjoying his best minutes in a Barcelona shirt.

However the second goal for the visitors came from their midfield partner Ivan Rakitic. Coutinho didn’t quite make the contact he’d have wished for at the back post but did manage to keep it in play and send it to the edge of the box. The onrushing Croatian unleashed a ferocious volley which cannoned off the post and into the back of the net. Unstoppable

It remained that way until half time. Spurs didn’t come out firing and twice in quick succession Messi was away and through on goal but both times his calm efforts came back off the post. This was the wake up call Tottenham needed and they soon punished the Argentine’s poor luck - to that point at least - in front of goal.

Harry Kane wasn’t in the mood to be upstaged and he twisted and turned his way past Semedo before rifling his effort into the far corner and beyond Ter Stegen’s reach. A match which seemed in such control for Barcelona now reduced them to the slimmest of advantages.

However it was the turn of Messi, third time’s a charm, to ease any concerns. A wonderful flowing move saw Alba square the ball back from Suarez who unselfishly let it run for Leo to place his effort inside the post. That should’ve been game over but it wasn’t.

Ten minutes later, and still with over 20 minutes to go, it was Messi’s fellow countryman Lamela who raised the home supporters’ hopes with a deflected strike which wrongfooted the dependable German between the sticks. Wembley was rocking as their side were so close to snatching a point which seemed light years away after 50 minutes.

Yet the last word, as it so often does, belonged to Messi. Spurs, perhaps tired after chasing shadows to get back into the game, lost possession in their half and another Suarez dummy meant Messi was through on goal and with just Lloris to beat. He did so with ease. 4-2.

A sensational game but one Barcelona deserved to win and they’re now in a great position to qualify for the knockout stages.