Tottenham Hotspur’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League knockout stages are now hanging by a thread. Mauricio Pochettino’s side lost 4-2 to Barcelona last night in their second Champions League group match, although it could have been different had Hugo Lloris not gifted Philippe Coutinho a goal inside two minutes.
2 – Goal for Barcelona. The visitors strike early as Alba cuts it back for Coutinho to fire in.
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) 3 October 2018
Inside the opening two minutes, Lionel Messi played a lovely through ball to Jordi Alba down the left-hand side and almost every Tottenham fan was groaning when they saw Hugo Lloris rushing out to try and beat Alba to the ball. As it was, the Frenchman got nowhere near and was left in no-mans land as Alba cut the ball back to Coutinho who had the simple task of stroking the ball into the empty net.
The opening goal was so important for Barcelona and it had Tottenham’s already tough battle turned into a much tougher one due to the mistake from their returning goalkeeper. In truth, most Tottenham fans will tell you that Paulo Gazzaniga should have started. The Argentine had done nothing wrong in his three matches deputising for Lloris and for Pochettino to throw the Frenchman back in for his first game after injury against a side like Barcelona was a mistake in the eyes of the 82,000 fans inside Wembley.
You can read The Lilywhites’ thoughts on Lloris here:
https://twitter.com/DavidMegicks/status/1047562755568553984
Bring back Gazz……..was Hugo breath tested before K.O… coys
— Brian Porter (@spursporter83) 3 October 2018
We’ve got no chance with him in goal
— Mr Wonder – It’s the hope that kills (@Peopleschamp78) October 3, 2018
https://twitter.com/DarGJEng/status/1047563104756924417
Hugo hugo, what was that
— Fienni (@Slugerianbreed) 3 October 2018
Gazza needed
— Cam (@OfficialCHall) October 3, 2018
Lloris is an out of date cabbage. Gazza in!
— Samuel (@Samuel02Johnson) October 3, 2018
The Spurs fans watching at Wembley and at home will have been fuming at Lloris and will just hope that Gazzaniga is thrown in against Cardiff on the weekend.
