FC Barcelona travelled to London to play Tottenham Hotspurs with a cloud over them after some bad Liga results. The Spanish Club managed to shake off the negative vibes to put in an excellent performance with a 2 - 4 victory & final result.
The starting line up for Barça was:
FC Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Semedo, Gerard Pique, Lenglet, Jordi Alba; Ivan Rakitic, Busquets, Arthur, Coutinho; Leo Messi & Luis Suarez.
Barça got off to a great start with a 1st min COUTINHO goal. The London reacted well as the match went on in the first half but good goalkeeping from Barça goalie Stegen & a magnificent 27th min goal from RAKITIC put Barça in the driver's seat.
To the merit of Tottenham Hotspurs they went in strong for the second half & HARRY KANE managed to pull one back in the 51st min. However, Barça & their best player LIONEL MESSI cancelled that early English effort with a marvellous 55th min goal.
Tottenham was not giving in & lifted again to keep their hopes alive of getting something positive when LAMELA scored their second in the 65th min. But there was MESSI again in the 89th min with his second & fourth goal for Barça to shut the door on the London Club.
ATLETICO DE MADRID hosted Belgium Club BRUGGE for their Group A game with Atletico winning 3 - 1. Their starting line-up was:
Atletico de Madrid: Oblak; Arias, JM Giménez, Godín, Lucas; Lemar, Thomas, Koke, Saúl; A. Griezmann & Diego Costa
The Spaniards did not put in their best performance as at time it looked that they were lacking ideas in their game. This is not unusual as their style has become "sticky" & "awkward" without the frills. So much so that Brugge got a goal in the 39th min to equalizer thanks to DANJUMA & against the grain.
However, their star forward GRIEZMANN had his night & managed to put some shine in their game with his two goals: the first in the 28th min & the second in the 67th min. Later KOKE sealed the victory for Atletico with his 92nd min goal.
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