Another f ine mess
miscued his volley but hooked the loose ball back to the edge of the area where Rakitic brilliantly volleyed it into the top corner.
Suarez then shot just wide of the far post as Spurs wobbled and the best effort Mauricio Pochettino’s side could manage was when Lamela’s cross had to be clawed out by Ter Stegen after it had deflected off Nelson Semedo.
Before half-time Lloris had to grab Messi’s deflected shot on the line after Spurs yet again gave away the ball. And after the break Messi picked up where he left off, collecting another loose ball and racing through the defence to see his shot come back off the post. Then he did it again, evading several defenders and seeing his shot hit exactly the same spot.
Within a minute, though, Spurs had one back as Kane picked up the ball from Lamela, cut back inside and curled a low shot into the far corner.
Suddenly Barcelona were rocked. But Messi had not finished.
Once again he found Alba breaking down the left, and when the full-back’s cross was dummied by Suarez, Messi was there to stroke home This time the post did not get in the way. Spurs’ moment of hope had been snuffed out.
Or had it? Ten minutes later Kane chased a loose ball out on the right and set up Lamela, whose shot took a wicked deflection off Clement Lenglet to fly into the net. Game on again.
But in the final minute Alba robbed Moussa Sissoko, Suarez dummied his cross, and who was waiting, unmarked, to slot home the simplest of goals? Messi, of course.
TOTTENHAM (4-2-3-1): Booked: Goals: BARCELONA: Booked: Referee: