Spurs reach last 16 as Moura snatches draw at Barcelona

Thursday, 13 December 2018 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Soccer Football - Champions League - Group Stage - Group B - FC Barcelona v Tottenham Hotspur - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - December 11, 2018 Barcelona’s Lionel Messi in action with Tottenham’s Toby Alderweireld and Moussa Sissoko REUTERS

BARCELONA (Reuters): Tottenham Hotspur produced a bold and spirited performance, coming from behind to grab a 1-1 draw at Barcelona which saw them finish second in Champions League Group B and reach the last-16 at the expense of Inter Milan on Tuesday.

Spurs were facing a much-changed Barcelona side that had already qualified in first place and started without talisman Lionel Messi. However, they fell behind to an astonishing run and strike from Ousmane Dembele in the seventh minute.

Tottenham dominated much of the game but were repeatedly denied by outstanding saves from Barcelona’s reserve goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen, before pulling level when Lucas Moura turned in a Harry Kane cross from close range in the 85th minute.

Danny Rose spurned a glorious chance to give Spurs the win but they squeezed through to the knockout stages thanks to Inter Milan drawing 1-1 at home to already-eliminated PSV Eindhoven.

This meant both teams finished with eight points but Spurs qualified due to their superior head-to-head record.

Barcelona, who equalled Bayern Munich’s Champions League record run of 29 home games without defeat, were runaway winners of the group on 14 points. The result capped a fine comeback in the group from Spurs, who had taken only one point from their opening three games in the campaign and looked dead and buried after conceding late in a 2-2 draw at PSV in October.

To guarantee a knock-out place, Tottenham needed to become the first team since Bayern Munich in 2013 to win at the Nou Camp in the Champions League and were encouraged by Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde making seven changes from Saturday’s 4-0 win at Espanyol.