Barcelona Win Joan Gamper Trophy After Scoring Three Late Goals To Beat Understrength Tottenham 4-2
Barcelona lifted the Joan Gamper Trophy on Tuesday night after coming from behind to beat Tottenham Hotspur 4-2.
This was Barca's first game at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys since work began to redevelop their famous Camp Nou home.
Barca boss Xavi Hernandez named a strong XI full of senior stars - with Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, Pedri, Gavi, Frenkie de Jong, Ronald Araujo, Jules Kounde and Marc-Andre ter Stegen all included from the start.
Meanwhile, Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou opted to rest many of his big hitters ahead of Sunday's Premier League opener away at Brentford.
Harry Kane - having scored four goals in a 5-1 win over Shakhtar Donetsk two days earlier - did not travel to Catalonia.
Cristian Romero, Destiny Udogie, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski also stayed in London, while Son Heung-Min was an unused substitute.
But an understrength Spurs side gave a strong account of themselves and led 2-1 at half time thanks to two Oliver Skipp goals, which came after Lewandowski had fired the home team ahead inside three minutes.
Oliver Skipp (left) and Robert Lewandowski pictured competing for the ball during Barcelona's 4-2 win over Tottenham in the 2023 Joan Gamper Trophy match
IMAGO/Pressinphoto/Sergio Ruiz
Lewandowski's goal had been set up by Raphinha after the Brazilian used his pace to exploit Tottenham's high defensive line.
Spurs stayed in front until the 81st minute when Ferran Torres equalized after the away side's backline was again caught out by speed in behind.
It looked like the match was heading to a penalty shootout but Barca retook the lead in the 90th minute when Torres assisted Ansu Fati to make it 3-2.
Morocco international Abde Ezzalzouli then completed the scoring in the third minute of added time.
