by Trapper John » Wed Feb 14, 2018 8:01 am
So the first two games in the Champions League kicked off last night after the winter break and both games ended successfully for the English clubs.
Manchester City went to Basel in Switzerland and came away with a 0-4 victory. Neither the scoreline nor the result were much of a surprise, with respect to Basel they aren't much better than a play off chasing Championship side. City have already booked their place in the quarter finals with the return leg a formality.
Spurs took to warmer climes and Italy, visiting the old lady of Turin, Juventus. As you would expect, this game would be a closer affair though Juve haven't proven to be the force they were in previous seasons.
A great deal of naivety from both sides was the main theme here. Spurs possibly over-awed by their oppponent's exaggerated reputation started guardedly and were punished before even beginning to settle, going down by two goals within 8 minutes of kick off. The first coming from a lovely half volley from Higuain who'd cut Spurs defence in half, the second from a penalty after a rash challenge from Spurs defender Davis in the box with Higuain converting from the spot.
Spurs were at sixes and sevens for a while after that but as the half wore on began to gain their composure helped mainly by Juve's typical Italian tactic of sitting back and defending the lead until the end. I can only think they hadn't done their homework on Premier league sides or Spurs in particular.
Sitting back might work in Italy and Europe against the quality of sides they meet on a weekly basis, it might work with 15 minutes left in a game, it was never going to after less than 10 minutes played against a Premier league side like Spurs who are renowned for being slow starters but have the engine and grit to press and make chances for the whole 90 minutes.
And so it proved, when Spurs talisman Harry Kane pulled a goal back for the Londoners on 35 minutes after some concerted pressure, the complexion of the game turned completely and it was now Juventus turn to panic.
As the first half closed though, all of Spurs good work in clawing back the game was almost undone by their defender Serge Aurier who made a silly and un-necessary challenge in the box bringing down a Juve attacker resulting in the second penalty award of the night.
Fortunately for Spurs, Higuain didn't get his hat-rick for the night as he hit the ball hard and high and it ricocheted off the crossbar, possibly with the slightest of fingertips from Lloris, and the whistle blew for half time remaining 2-1 to the home team.
Spurs came out much brighter for the second half, almost the opposite of Juventus who now looked rattled as Spurs relentless pressure was affording the Italians little chance to break out and counter as the half wore on, if in fact that was what they wanted to do. The Londoners were rewarded for their dogged persistence with 20 minutes to go with a nice Eriksen goal, levelling the score at 2-2.
Juventus rallied a little at the end but the score remained the same, with Spurs taking a pair of precious away goals home with them for the second leg.
So unless Spurs fuck it all up at Wembley in the home leg, which seems unlikely, Spurs probably booked their quarter final slot last night.