As It Happened: Tottenham Hotspur 2-4 Barcelona

Welcome to Nigerianeye's live text coverage of the Champions League clash between Tottenham Hotspur and Barcelona at Wembley Stadium.

The Lilywhites are seeking their first Group B points this evening following last month's late 2-1 loss at Inter Milan.

Spurs have won three in a row since then in all competitions, whereas Barca have hit a bad patch of form - collecting two points from the last nine on offer in La Liga - and are in need of some momentum.

Follow all of the action as it unfolds in the English capital with our extensive updates below.

OFFICIAL LINE-UPS

TOTTENHAM: Lloris; Trippier, Alderweireld, Sanchez, Davies; Wanyama, Winks; Lucas, Lamela, Son; Kane

SUBS: Gazzaniga, Rose, Dier, Walker-Peters, Skipp, Sissoko, Llorente

BARCELONA: Ter Stegen; Semedo, Pique, Lenglet, Alba; Arthur, Busquets, Rakitic; Coutinho, Suarez, Messi

SUBS: Cillessen, Denis Suarez, Dembele, Rafinha, El Haddadi, Vidal, Vermaelen


































What a game that was! Six goals in all and plenty of entertainment throughout. Lionel Messi proved the difference in the end, but full credit to Tottenham Hotspur for giving it a right go. They ultimately have no points to show for it, though, and they find themselves pointless after two Champions League matches, whereas Barcelona are top of Group B on six points from six.

90+5 min TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 2-4 BARCELONA

90+3 min Thomas Vermaelen is on for Sergio Busquets for the final 60 seconds or so. This has been a thrilling contest, and on the balance of the 90 minutes Barca are deserving winners. A return to winning ways for Valverde after a tough week or so.

90+1 min Hugo Lloris's pass puts his side in trouble and it is then left to Lionel Messi to tuck the ball past the Frenchman. This has been a brave showing from the Lilywhites, but that should seal the three points for Barca.

90 min TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 2-4 BARCELONA (LIONEL MESSI)

88 min Toby Alderweireld gets on the end of Tottenham's latest corner, but it was nothing more than a routine stop for Ter Stegen. Arturo Vidal is now on for Arthur in a change Valverde probably should have made 10 minutes ago. Two minutes to go here!

86 min This looked destined to end in the back of the net from Lucas Moura. The shot was well struck, only to hit Clement Lenglet and end wide of the target. From the corner, Harry Kane attacked Kieran Trippier's delivery but could not find the target, as Lenglet was there to block the ball.

84 min BARCELONA SUB! The best two chances at 3-2 have fallen Tottenham's way - Sissoko skying over the bar from a good position and Lucas Moura's shot being kept out by Ter Stegen a couple of minutes ago. Rafinha is now on for Philippe Coutinho.

82 min Barcelona, unlike before Erik Lamela's goal, are no longer looking like scoring when they get on the ball. Valverde will be keen to hear that full-time whistle now, because it is Tottenham who are looking the more likely to net, as Lucas Moura's shot down the middle is well handled by Ter Stegen.

80 min TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR SUB! Mauricio Pochettino makes his third and final change, bringing on tall striker Fernando Llorente for Erik Lamela. More height and strength in that forward line now, as Spurs go all out for a leveller.

78 min Kieran Trippier drilled a cross into the middle and, after a little scare, Nelson Semedo managed to clear the ball away. A little over 10 minutes to go and Ernesto Valverde has still yet to make a change, despite having a number of talented options on the bench.

76 min A sixth yellow card of the evening, this time for Harry Kane after lunging in on Gerard Pique when the centre-back was attempting to clear the ball up the field. Pique is in a bit of pain after that and is currently receiving treatment.

74 min It was Son Heung-min who made was for Sissoko, incidentally, and the Frenchman should have done better with that aforementioned shot. Sergio Busquets was also cautioned a couple of minutes ago for tripping Erik Lamela on the break.

72 min Tottenham's gamble to keep the game wide open has paid off. It could so easily have been 3-0 and then 4-1, but as it is just one goal separates the sides with 18 minutes still left to play. The home fans are now right behind their side.

70 min Hugo Lloris rescues one of his teammates but then again leaves himself in no man's land when racing out. The ball broke for Lionel Messi, but he could not tuck the ball home as Toby Alderweireld pounced on the loose ball. Moussa Sissoko is now on and had blasted over the bar from his first chance.

68 min Tottenham are back in it again - what a match this is turning out to be! Erik Lamela bags his first Champions League goal for the club, courtesy of a heavy deflection off Clement Lenglet's body to lift his long-range shot over Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

67 min TOTTENHAM 2-3 BARCELONA (ERIK LAMELA)

65 min It has been a lively opening 20 minutes to the second half to say the least. Barely a chance to breathe, with Lionel Messi twice hitting the post before netting, but only after Harry Kane had temporarily dragged his side back into the game.

63 min Unfortunately for Tottenham, Lionel Messi is having another stormer tonight. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner again sends Luis Suarez away, but the Uruguayan's shot did not have enough power behind it to get the better of Hugo Lloris.

61 min Brazilian midfielder Arthur is booked for charging into Harry Winks. Eric Dier has been brought on for Victor Wanyama - a change that Pochettino was looking to make before Barcelona's third goal. This match remains incredibly open.

59 min Well that was short-lived! As soon as they got themselves back into the match, Tottenham concede for a third time to knock the wind out of their sails. Lionel Messi, the game's best player - surprise surprise! - guided Jordi Alba's cross into the bottom corner, having also played a key part in the build-up.

57 min TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1-3 BARCELONA (LIONEL MESSI)

55 min Spurs somehow avoided going a third goal behind, with Lionel Messi twice hitting the post, and the mood around Wembley Stadium is now completely different thanks to that Harry Kane goal. That is now 10 goals in 12 Champions League outings for him.

53 min It is indeed game on at Wembley Stadium! Thirty-two seconds after Lionel Messi hit the same post from the same position for a second time tonight, Harry Kane tucked the ball past Ter Stegen to get his side off the mark. The striker had so much to do, cutting inside his man and curling the ball out of Ter Stegen's reach.

52 min TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1-2 BARCELONA (HARRY KANE)

50 min Tottenham fans are encouraged by the last couple of minutes, culminating in their side winning a corner. The delivery was not a bad one, but the visitors managed to get the ball clear. There is a third goal in this game - should Spurs get it then it is very much game on.

48 min So close to a third Barcelona goal, as Lionel Messi does what he does best by carrying the ball a good 30 yards. Rather than picking out the bottom corner, as he so often does, the Argentinian forward instead picked out the post.

46 min Barcelona get us back under way at Wembley Stadium in this Group B fixture. Neither manager has made a change at the interval, so it is as you were in that regard. Barca have by far the stronger of the two benches, and we will likely see a change or two come the hour.

Barcelona take a commanding 2-0 lead into the half-time interval at Wembley Stadium thanks to goals from Philippe Coutinho and Ivan Rakitic. The visitors have been dominant and are well on course to end their recent winless run, but Tottenham Hotspur will certainly not throw in the towel just yet.


45+4 min TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 0-2 BARCELONA

45+2 min GROUP B UPDATE! Radja Nainggolan has just scored for Inter Milan to draw them level away at PSV Eindhoven in the other Group B fixture taking place tonight. At Wembley, meanwhile, Barca are on top as we enter the final minute of added-one time.

45 min Erik Lamela catches Sergio Busquets with his arm after being left frustrated by Barcelona's quick passing, earning himself a booking. The home side cannot get the ball off their opponents, and it looks as though they will go into the interval three goals down.

43 min Victor Wanyama joins Toby Alderweireld in seeing a yellow card for his strong challenge on Ivan Rakitic. That came after a promising Spurs attack fizzled out when Kieran Trippier's cross was cleared by Arthur. Harry Kane is dropping very deep at the moment.

41 min Less than five minutes to go until half time and Spurs are desperately seeking a route into the match. This Group B tie is not over just yet, but a third goal for Barcelona will certainly kill it off. This has been a good display from the visitors.

39 min Luis Suarez peeled off his man but could not quite bring down the 40-yard pass into his path. Lionel Messi went one better by getting a shot on target, but it did not have enough power or precision to get the beating of Hugo Lloris.

37 min Lionel Messi's first-time finish is right at Hugo Lloris, who makes the save. This match has become incredibly open since Barcelona added a second goal to their tally, with both teams coming close to netting. This one is not finishing 2-0!

35 min We are being treated to some brilliant finishes tonight, although this volley from Son Heung-min will not count as the referee had already blown for a handball infringement against Kieran Trippier - correct call. Lamela's cross then hit Semedo and is kept out brilliantly by Ter Stegen.

33 min Lionel Messi is bossing things from deep tonight. His latest sublime pass is nicely weighted for Luis Suarez to latch on to, but his shot was struck right across goal. Barca are in cruise control at the moment thanks to goals from Coutinho and Rakitic.

31 min This is an unbelievable strike form Ivan Rakitic to double Barcelona's lead! The move looked to be dead when Philippe Coutinho mishit his shot, but he somehow kept it in play and set up Rakitic on the edge of the box in the process. The technique was incredible, lifting both feet off the ground and sending the ball flying in off the post from outside the area.

29 min TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 0-2 BARCELONA (IVAN RAKITIC)

27 min The ball did dip in front of Marc-Andre ter Stegen from that Harry Kane shot, but it was pretty routine stuff. Still, a first shot of the evening for Tottenham and a sign that they will present more of a threat as this match goes on.

25 min This first half is whizzing by. Twenty-five minutes now on the clock and Tottenham are continuing to probe away, as Harry Kane's long-range shot is easily dealt with by Ter Stegen. Barcelona look far more threatening when they move through the gears and commit bodies forward.

23 min It has been a quiet night elsewhere on the continent this evening - this clash at Wembley Stadium is the only game with a goal so far. Sergio Busquets is currently down receiving some treatment after being caught on the knee. A reminder that Philippe Coutinho's second-minute goal separates the two sides.

21 min The only other attempt so far came via the head of Clement Lenglet, who could not keep the ball down when rising to meet Lionel Messi's deep free kick. A nearly moment for Tottenham, as Harry Kane would have been in if he had adjusted his feet quicker.

19 min Nearly a quarter of the match played and Philippe Coutinho's goal remains the only serious shot of the match at either end. Spurs have seen a lot more of the ball in the opposition half, but they are not really doing a lot with it.

17 min Lucas Moura was played in behind down the right, but he could not pull the ball back for a teammate. That was similar to the move that led to Barca's goal - on that occasion Hugo Lloris was left stranded after racing off his line when he should have stayed put.

15 min Surprised Barca are sitting off as much as they are. The visitors made the dream start through Philippe Coutinho's 18-yard strike 93 seconds in, but since then they have allowed their opponents to control the game in terms of possession.

13 min Spurs are starting to grow into the match now; they have been in control of the ball for a good few minutes. They are not really getting anywhere, though, with Barca happy to sit back and soak up some pressure for the time being.

11 min There has not really been a great deal of action since Philippe Coutinho's goal. That remains the only shot of the contest so far, but Tottenham are now starting to enjoy the odd spell on the ball and will look to get at their opponents a little more.

9 min That goal was timed at 92 seconds - just a minute-and-a-half required for Barcelona to open the scoring at a ground that they have come to love playing at. The move that led to the goal was as straightforward as you will see this week, but effective nonetheless.

7 min Not since March 2009 have Barcelona gone four matches without a victory, and the early signs here are promising. They look as though they will end their winless run tonight, as they hold a one-goal lead and are looking comfortable on the ball.

5 min On a matchday littered with early strikes, it will be interesting to see how Tottenham respond to that setback. Poor goalkeeping from Hugo Lloris, it has to be said, as he raced out of his goal and got nowhere near Jordi Alba. Kieran Trippier's positioning also has to be questioned.

3 min Well that didn't take long, did it?! Barcelona open the scoring inside just two minutes here through former Liverpool man Philippe Coutinho. Lionel Messi played the ball through for Jordi Alba, who took Hugo Lloris and Kieran Trippier out of the game and pulled the ball back for Coutinho to fire into an unguarded net from the edge of the box.

2 min GOAL!  TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 0-1 BARCELONA (PHILIPPE COUTINHO)

1 min KICKOFF:  Barcelona, who have three players in their starting ranks from the side that lifted the Champions League here in 2011, are aiming to make it two wins from two in Group B. Tottenham Hotspur, meanwhile, are aiming to put their first points on the board.