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Sports, Football

Yamal stars as Barca win Joan Gamper Trophy


Published : 09 Aug 2023 10:04 PM

Barcelona produced a second-half comeback to see off Tottenham and claimed the Joan Gamper Trophy yesterday at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, their temporary new home.

Teenager Lamine Yamal had a hand in three late goals as Xavi's side pulled out a thrilling performance in the final 10 minutes of their Joan Gamper Trophy final match to win 4-2 after a dismal first-half display against Spurs.

Late goals from Ferran Torres, Ansu Fati and Ez Abde put gloss on an otherwise underwhelming Barca display, with Spurs left shell-shocked.

Oliver Skipp's brace, after Robert Lewandowski's early goal, had put Ange Postecoglou's side 2-1 up and they were good value for that lead — until the late onslaught.

But it was Barcelona who took the early lead, carving open Spurs inside three minutes. Raphinha stormed down the Barcelona right and crossed delicately for Lewandowski to power home with a left-footed half volley.

Postecolgou's side soon responded when Skipp fired home following Giovani Lo Celso's shot, which hit the woodwork.

That move had started with some dogged play from Ivan Perisic down the Spurs left. And the Croatian was also involved in Skipp's second, as the English midfielder nodded home an inch-perfect Perisic cross to make it 2-1.

Spurs looked in control. But it was 16-year-old substitute Lamine Yamal who turned the game after coming on in the final 10 minutes; first picking out the onrushing Ferran Torres to turn home from close-range to make it 2-2, and then dazzling with a phenomenal turn before feeding Fati, who fired the winner beyond goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario in the Spurs goal.

Fermin Lopez then cut apart Spurs once more to give Abde the chance to wrap up the 4-2 victory in the final preseason match for these two sides.