Spurs 2-0 Juventus: (match report)
“A lot of their players played in the Champions League Final last season and we dominated from the start, pressed high, got that early goal and controlled the game from there. It was a great performance and one that will give us a lot of confidence going forward into the new season.” (Harry Kane)
Spurs rounded off their preseason with a superb display over Italian side Juventus on Saturday evening. As Mauricio Pochettino’s players put in a commendable performance, outplaying one of Europes finest sides under the Wembley arch. We were on great form, our lads were sharp and fluid as a great team performance saw us comfortably see off last seasons champions league finalists in a game, which we controlled from the offing. Desperate to adapt to our new home for the current season it was imperative that we got a result to boost our confidence. After a fairly uneventful opening 10 minutes, Pochettino’s lads opened the scoring after a wonderfully worked teaam goal which started from the back. After a couple of well exchanged passes the ball came to Mousa Sissoko who picked out Trippier down the right wing. Trippier delivering a peach of a cross into the box which was met by Kane, who powered an excellent header past Gianluigi Buffon, to put us one up. Juventus replied with a couple of decent efforts, first from Paulo Dybala who created space before lashing over, and then through Higuain who forced a fine save from Lloris from the following corner. We remained in control of the game and our constant pressing of the visitors saw us almost double our lead on the half hour mark. Stephan Lichtensteiner’s pass back to Buffon was won by the on rushing Kane after Buffon’s bad first touch, Kane tried to get the ball past the Italian international. But Chiellini was their to make a perfectly timed sliding challenge.
We continued to attack and just minutes later we came desperately close to doubling our lead, courtesy of an excellent solo effort by Sissoko, after receiving a pass by Alli
Sissoko ran the length of the Juventus half before cutting inside on his right and curling an effort, which so unfortunately hit the inside of Buffon’s post before going away from danger. An excellent effort from the powerful and pacy winger who put in one of his best shifts in a Spurs shirt yesterday. A worrying injury sustained by Trippier on the stroke of half time put a dampener on what had been a very good first half display. We started the second half with the same confidence and quality that we had left the first in. And just minutes in we doubled our lead through the potent Christian Eriksen. The Dane made a perfectly time run into the box as he latched on to Alli’s through ball, before calmly taking the ball past Buffon and tapping home into the empty net. Kane almost made it three shortly afterwards when his move with Eriksen ended with him firing an effort at goal which was tipped wide, courtesy of a vital touch from Buffon.
Juventus were eager to get a way back into the game, Dybala sending Douglas Costa’s cross narrowly wide before testing Lloris with a fine effort. Dybala cut inside on the edge of the area before curling an effort in the direction of the far post which was expertly stopped by Lloris. The introduction of young Italian starlet Moise Kean provided a boost for the visitors, shortly after being introduced the forward received a delightful pass in the area, but the youngster could only manage to hit his effort against the crossbar, much to the relief of Lloris. Former Chelsea man Juan Cuadrado threatened our clean sheet five minutes from time. The Colombian embarked on a surging run down the right before powering an effort at goal, which was spectacularly denied by Lloris. The final score in Spurs final preseason game, Spurs 2-0 Juventus. A highly impressive performance at our new temporary home, to give us a big confidence boost ahead of our first league game away to Newcastle United next Sunday. COYS
My man of the match: Christian Erisken. Utterly superb performance from the Danish international who has been without doubt our best player of preseason. He dazzled behind Kane, his movement, passing and goal were of real quality.
Player reviews: – Hugo Lloris: Top performance from the captain, made a string of top saves.
– Kieran Trippier: Was superb at right back (assisted opener) before being worryingly forced off through injury late on in the first half.
– Toby Alderweireld: Typically flawless and efficient defensive display from Alderweireld helped us record a clean sheet.
– Jan Vertonghen: Made some really good runs out of defence, whilst also making a big contribution to our clean sheet.
– Ben Davies: Solid and assured performance at left back.
– Eric Dier: Efficient and tidy.
– Mousa Dembele: Dominant midfield performance from the Belgian, made a real impression on the game.
– Moussa Sissoko: His best performance in a Spurs shirt by some distance. Sissoko was superb against Juventus, powerful, pacy and involved. The Frenchman was really sharp, playing a big part in the first goal, Sissoko was also desperately unlucky not to get on the scoresheet himself.
– Dele: Assisted Eriksen’s goal with a well timed pass, Alli was a real creative threat throughout the game.
– Christian Erisken: My man of the match, Erisken continued his excellent pre season with another top display, he was the creative spark behind an excellent team display. He also took his goal really well.
– Harry Kane: On top of his game. Our talisman lead the line perfectly well, scored a fine header and was unlucky not to have scored more.
– Kyle Walker-Peters: Replaced the injured Kieran Trippier late on in the first half and the 20 year old looked right at home in the side. Solid and assured performance at right back.
– Harry Winks: The substitute put in a good shift in the midfield.
– Anthony Georgiou: Pochettino gave the young winger he’s second game in a Spurs shirt and he seized his opportunity yet again. He was hungry for the ball down the left wing, he was non stop both offensively and defensively, he just wanted to run past the Juventus defenders. I could see Georgiou being used as an impact sub over the coming season, he could become a very useful player.
Spurs (4-2-3-1): Lloris (c), Trippier (Walker-Peters 41), Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Davies, Dier, Dembele (Wimmer 90), Sissoko (Georgiou 65), Dele (Winks 65), Eriksen (Oakley-Boothe 90), Kane (Janssen 78). Substitutes (not used): Vorm, Whiteman, Carter-Vickers, Dinzeyi, Miller.
Juventus (4-2-3-1): Buffon (c, Pinsoglio 76), Lichtsteiner (De Sciglio 46), Rugani (Barzagli 60), Chiellini (Benatia 60) Alex Sandro (Asamoah 46), Khedira (Bentancur 75), Pjanic (Marchisio 46), Douglas Costa (Bernardeschi 60), Dybala, Mandzukic (Cuadrado 46), Higuain (Kean 75). Substitutes (not used): Lemina, Rincon, Del Favero.
Goals: Spurs – Kane 10, Eriksen 52.
Referee: Martin Atkinson.
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