Tottenham 2-4 Barcelona: Champions League highlights and recap

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 03: Ivan Rakitic of Barcelona(2R) celebrates after scoring his team's second goal with team mates during the Group B match of the UEFA Champions League between Tottenham Hotspur and FC Barcelona at Wembley Stadium on October 3, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) /

Barcelona beat Tottenham 4-2 in the Champions League on Wednesday, Oct. 3. Here are all the highlights from the match.

Barcelona held off a Tottenham fightback to win 4-2 in the Champions League on Wednesday thanks to goals from Philippe Coutinho, Ian Rakitic and a brace from Lionel Messi. Spurs came into the match in greater need of a win after losing to Inter Milan in their group opener, but fell behind within two minutes.

The goal was the result of a bad error from Hugo Lloris, making his first start since a spell on the side lines with injury. He rushed off his line to pressure Jordi Alba, who cut back for Coutinho. The Brazilian didn’t have a simple finish, but with Lloris out of goal it was a lot easier than it should have been.

Tottenham steadied themselves after conceding, but struggled to create anything going forward, as Barca held over 60 percent of the ball in the first half. The Catalan side doubled their lead in the 28th minute, Rakitic firing a superb volley in off the post after good work from Messi and Coutinho down Spurs’ right.

Tottenham improved after the break, and pulled a goal back in the 52nd minute. After Messi had hit the post for the second time in quick succession, Spurs broke quickly, working the ball to Erik Lamela, who played in Kane. The Englishman worked a yard of space one-on-one with Nelson Semedo before curling in.

The lead was short-lived, though, and Messi restored Barca’s two-goal lead within five minutes. He started the move, playing the ball out wide to Jordi Alba, whose cross was dummied by Coutinho and Luis Suarez before arriving on Messi’s left foot. Messi aimed for the same post he had hit twice earlier, and this time found the side netting.

The goal seemed like it would put the game to bed, but Lamela pulled Tottenham within a goal once more thanks to a deflected strike in the 66th minute. The goal galvanized the home side, who had some decent moments as they chased the game, but Messi put the result to bed in the 90th minute, capitalizing on a Tottenham giveaway.

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Highlights

https://twitter.com/brlive/status/1047569860077617152

https://twitter.com/brlive/status/1047584646442229760

https://twitter.com/brlive/status/1047590228523794432

Barcelona play Inter next, while Tottenham face PSG.

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