The Archive | Barcelona 1-1 Spurs | 11.12.18

Before City, before Ajax, before Madrid, we had Barcelona, and the completion of a Champions League ‘mission impossible’ on 11 December, 2018.

To set the scene, a late turn around and defeat in our opener against Inter in Milan, defeat at home against Lionel Messi-inspired Barca and another late blow, this time conceding an equaliser at PSV, seemingly left our chances of qualification for the knockout stages in tatters. We had one point from three matches, three games left, final game in the Nou Camp.

But you sensed something was in the Champions League air when Harry Kane struck two late goals, including a last-minute clincher, to take the points in a must-win Matchday Four return against PSV at Wembley. Christian Eriksen continued the momentum with another late winner against Inter at Wembley and the comeback was on – level on points with Inter, we needed to match their result at home against PSV in Matchday Six.

The thing was, we were in the Nou Camp. Barca were up to 28 matches unbeaten at home in the Champions League – one behind Bayern Munich’s record (Barca stretched it to 36 before losing to Bayern in August, 2020) – and were top of Group B, unbeaten, four wins in five, top of La Liga and on a run of one defeat in 15, all competitions.

History was against us as well - ahead of 2018/19, only seven of 61 teams who had claimed one point from their first three group matches had progressed to the knockout phase.

Highlights - Barca 1-1 Spurs

Things didn’t start well for us, either. Only seven minutes were on the clock when Ousmane Dembele broke from halfway, from our free-kick, to slot home the opener. From there, it was thrilling, nail-biting stuff. PSV scored in the San Siro, Jasper Cillessen denied Heung-Min Son, Philippe Coutinho hit the post and into the second half, Cillessen denied Eriksen and Kane fired over one-on-one.

Messi came off the bench and then the news we didn’t want to hear - Inter had equalised on 73 minutes in Milan. As it stood, we were out. We needed a goal. Cillesen somehow kept out Lucas Moura’s header and Coutinho struck the post for the second time - that would have been that...

But it wasn’t, and two minutes after that let off, we scored the crucial goal. What a goal, as well. It started in our penalty area, Toby Alderweireld into Eriksen, wide to Erik Lamela, onto Kane left side, into the box and his cross steered home by Lucas. Cue pandemonium from 4,500 Spurs fans high in the top tier of the Nou Camp.

Danny Rose had the chance of the game to secure victory but fired over. Then the final whistle, at 9.52pm UK time. PSV were level at Inter - despite efforts on goal reading 23-6 in Inter’s favour. Would they hold on? At 9.55pm, our fans started celebrating. It had ended 1-1 in Milan. We were through - mission impossible accomplished!

Moura to the rescue on an unforgettable night for Spurs, wrote The Telegraph the next day. Against the best team in the world, Tottenham’s work ethic shone through, add the i. No one gave them a prayer, wrote John Cross of The Mirror. But Tottenham produced a battling performance worthy of the miracle they needed to take them into the last 16.

The rest, of course, is history. Borussia Dortmund toppled 4-0 over two legs, with Super Jan Vertonghen’s peak performance at Wembley. The first-ever Champions League game at the new stadium, and a roller-coaster over two legs in the quarter-final against City with Sonny’s goals, and VAR. Then Ajax, the night of all nights in the semi-final, second leg in Amsterdam. All roads led to Madrid, with the first ‘miracle’ of that memorable Champions League run completed in the Nou Camp three years ago today.

Match data

Spurs (4-2-3-1): Lloris (c), Walker-Peters (Lamela 61), Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose, Winks (Llorente 83), Sissoko, Eriksen, Dele, Son (Lucas 71), Kane. Substitutes (not used): Gazzaniga, Davies, Dier, Skipp.

Goals: Barcelona - Dembele 7; Spurs - Lucas 85.

Yellow cards: Barcelona - Semedo 68; Spurs - Walker-Peters 15.

Referee: Milorad Mažić (SRB).

Venue: Nou Camp, Barcelona.

Weather: Partly cloudy, 10 degrees.

Attendance: 69,961.

Lucas on Spurs TV