Barcelona 4-2 Tottenham: Lamine Yamal changes the game
At 16 years old, Lamine Yamal entered the second half to shift the momentum as Tottenham pressed to control the match. The occasion was the Joan Gamper Trophy, held at the Montjuïc Olympic Stadium, marking a fresh chapter for a Barcelona side adapting to a new era in their home venue for the time being.
Barcelona has been mid-renovation mode after clinching La Liga last season and welcoming new talent such as Gundogan and Iñigo Martínez, with more additions anticipated. The club aims to match the ambition of last season under the guidance of Xavi Hernández, using pre-season fixtures to demonstrate the team’s readiness ahead of the league campaign. Tottenham, meanwhile, used this clash as valuable preparation in a year they want to solidify a return to Europe’s top competition, the Champions League, after a slower start in the transfer window.
Barcelona 4-2 Tottenham: Yamal’s impact seals the win
Barcelona opened with a swift goal from Robert Lewandowski, yet Oliver Skipp answered with a brace before halftime, tipping the balance in Tottenham’s favor. The balance shifted after the break when Yamal delivered a moment of inspiration, chasing a ball down the right and setting up Ferran Torres for Barcelona’s second equalizer. Torres, a leading scorer in the team’s preseason, then assisted Ansu Fati to create a 3-2 lead. In stoppage time, Yamal again orchestrated from the right, this time enabling Fermín López to set up Abe for a 4-2 finish.
Match recap: FC Barcelona vs Tottenham, Joan Gamper Trophy 2023
In the late stages, Lamine Yamal’s relentless dribbling and precise passes kept pressure on Tottenham. A notable moment saw a cross from Yamal finding Fermín López, who laid it back for Abe to make it 4-2. The sequence underscored Barcelona’s ability to convert quick attacks into goals with movement from the wings and sharp finishing in the box.
90th minute summary highlighted a brilliant exchange where Yamal’s outside-of-the-foot delivery helped Ferran Torres’ setup for Ansu Fati’s goal, restoring Barcelona’s lead to a 3-2 moment before the late counter that sealed the result.
80th minute, Barcelona drew level with a well-timed assist from Yamal to Ferran Torres, who finished from close range. The interplay between Barcelona’s young talent and the team’s established forwards created a dynamic that foreshadowed potential under the new season, despite the offside tensions noted by observers on multiple replays.
79th minute onward featured several lineup changes for Barcelona as they managed minutes for squad depth. Earlier, the team had already begun a rotation phase, signaling strategic planning for a heavy upcoming schedule.
60th minute marked another wave of substitutions as Barcelona rotated to maintain tempo and freshness, a common approach in pre-season showdowns that test depth and cohesion ahead of the competitive grind.
46th minute signaled the start of the second half, with Barcelona looking to capitalize on the momentum built late in the first period.
Before the break, Oliver Skipp’s second goal had Tottenham dreaming of a comeback, but Barcelona’s response through the youngster’s influence established a narrative of resilience and youthful spark in the Blaugrana lineup.
6th minute recap noted Raphinha’s early chance, denied by Lewandowski’s reaction in a moment that hinted at Barcelona’s evolving chemistry. A 2nd minute strike from Lewandowski, after a pass from Oriol Romeu to Raphinha, showed the team’s intent to blend veteran instinct with rising talent on the wings.
The opening mood of the match began with Barcelona’s first feel of Montjuïc as their temporary home, setting a tone of adaptation and ambition for the season ahead.
Manager Xavi Hernández spoke after the final whistle about embracing the new signings and maintaining the familiar spirit. His message echoed the team’s broader objective: combine solidarity with commitment to win every title, while acknowledging the unique challenges of playing in Montjuïc this year. Fans were encouraged to support the squad as it builds toward a strong campaign.
The captain’s remarks reinforced the sense of continuity and pride with the club’s colors, emphasizing the importance of feeling at home and the shared goal of lifting multiple trophies as the season unfolds. The atmosphere at Gamper remained vibrant, signaling strong backing from the crowd as Barcelona looks ahead to domestic and European battles.
XI OF BARCELONA
TOTTENHAM XII
Our team to beat Barcelona!
— Tottenham Hotspur
Let’s review the alignments and tactical adjustments as both sides tested ideas and personnel ahead of a packed schedule.