UEFA Youth League: FC Barcelona 0-2 Tottenham

The Barça U19 team have lost 2-0 at home to Tottenham in the final game of the UEFA Youth League group stage, but the defeat is no tragedy as they were already safely qualified for the next round as group champions.

Barça governed the early stages as Konrad controlled the possession game and the team looked comfortable going forward. But Spurs gradually worked their way into things and scored on their first attack with Parrot on the end of a fine assist from Maghoma.

Ansu and Jose Martínez had the best of many chances in a first half in which Barça had generally looked the better team but were going to the dressing rooms a goal down.

The Londoners came out with new verve after the restart. They needed to win this game to secure a playoff berth, and twice looked to have added a second goal, but were denied both times by superb goalkeeping from Arnau Tenas.

But most of the meaningful football was in the direction of Austin’s goal, and both Mingueza and Ilaix sent fine chances just wide, and Ansu’s first-time strike off a Konrad assist also came frustratingly close.

With Barça throwing everything forward in search of a draw, there was always the danger of getting caught on the counter and that’s just what happened when Richards sealed a Tottenham second on 89 minutes.

It was Barça’s first defeat in the competition, but they still top Group B by three clear points.

Match Stats

FC Barcelona: Tenas, Mngueza, Alejandro, Jose, Antonio Sola (Iván Bravo, min. 73), Jandro, Antonio Jesús, Nico (Ilaix, min. 46), Konrad (Nils, min. 81), Ansu (Serrano, min. 81) i Marqués (Peque, min. 46).
Tottenham: Austin, Hinds, Cirken, Bowden, Eyoma, White, Markanday, Oakley-Boothe, Parrott (Richards, min. 87), Maghoma (Shashoua, min. 73) i Roles.
Goals: 0-1, Parrot (min. 17) i 0-2, Richards (min. 89).