Tottenham Hotspur enjoyed one of the greatest nights of their modern history at the Camp Nou on Tuesday, securing progression to the knockout phase of the Champions League against all odds, yet it wasn't the usual Barcelona who they faced, with the hosts finally conceding the possession battle.
Not since December of 2006 have Los Cules had less than 50 percent possession in a Champions League group match, and this came against Werder Bremen when the Spaniards held just 42 percent.
In Tuesday's 1-1 draw with Mauricio Pochettino's charges, a significantly rotated Barcelona team could manage just 48 percent of the ball, a testament to both the Argentine's work in North London and the number of rotation options Ernesto Valverde had decided upon.
Ivan Rakitic, Carles Alena and Arthur all started in midfield on Tuesday evening, and the lack of cohesion between the trio was apparent, although it shouldn't come as too much of a surprise considering the fact they've hardly played together this term.
In every single match this season across all competitions, Barcelona have controlled possession to a demoralising degree, with matches against Alaves and Valencia seeing the Catalan club hold 78.3 percent and 76 percent respectively.
Controlling the ball has been Barcelona's raison d'être for many years, yet against Tottenham they took their foot off the pedal with qualification already assured.
Levante are the club's next opponents domestically and you would expect Valverde's side to once again dictate proceedings with their ball retention.
evilsam
316
Greatest nights: they played against kids. This was like a club friendly to test our players
LionelAndresMessiiii
226
Lol... If they won't have won the possession battle then what have been their standards?? It was Barça B..... And let me remind you. Tottenham played with their strongest squad.... Still they played just for getting a draw.... That's our standards bitches....
Beedmrt
206
Tot are so starved of international success that they celebrate a draw,tho valuable in terms of qualification.....they should worry that their first team failed to beat a predominantly second string side ....It could be an indication that they wont go anywhere further than their next games ...home and away n Tot will be out....They can never win games playing the way they did...I also think first half Barcelona had had more possession n had spurs on the back foot...I am really n truely proud of the future of Barca....Great management of team,n individual players...I advise any young great talent should join Barca if they want to gain cognitive football skills, more psychomotor skills n professdionalism in general...They preserve the dignity of player
henrykofiasarejnr
116
People need u understand and accept that Tottenham with their great squad didn't played with the best of Barcelona's strong team so the draw is like a win for them but a worse draw for Barcelona. So that tells some of u that the least standard at laliga is the great standard in the premiership.
the_Profe55or
85
your statement "the least standard in la liga is the best standard in premiership" is bullshit!!! so in your brain-washed mind u think that Barcelona can easily win the likes of wolves, totenham, everton, and lecester the same way they're easily steam-rolling smaller clubs in la liga abi? well dream on. Beware, totenham didn't even play their best game with their best players! let barca bring their best squad and tot'ham do d same then see what'll happen to barca lol! Fact is; they couldn't win totenham period! and they lost d midfield battle cos totenham were the better team last night, so deal with that[Spittongue]!