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The Matchday 6 action in the UEFA Champions League 2018-19 season saw Tottenham and Inter battle it out for the runners-up spot in the group in order to qualify for the round of 16. Barcelona who had already qualified, were looking to continue their unbeaten run on home turf.
Inter and Tottenham were both dependent on each other's results, as both were hoping to win, and wishing that the result of the other match ended in their favour.
Lets look at the 3 major talking points from Matchday 6 of the UEFA Champions League Group B matches.
#1 Late Lucas Moura equaliser ensured progress for Tottenham
Over the last few weeks, Ousmane Dembele has been embroiled in a controversy related to his discipline, but the Frenchman was clinical in his strike to hand La Blaugrana the lead very early in the 7th minute.
With Inter drawing level with PSV at the San Siro, Pochettino's men looked certain to finish third and continue their European campaign in the Europa League. But an 85th-minute strike from Lucas Moura brought Tottenham back in the match, and was enough to seek qualification.
There is no doubt that Spurs were the better team on the night against a weakened Barcelona side, and the second half substitutions of Lamela and Moura played a key role to get Tottenham through to the knockout round.
"To celebrate inside with everyone, after four-and-a-half years it was the first time you feel something really special," Pochettino told the media. "The connection was amazing and we need to be clever how we manage that energy now."
"The players were fantastic. A massive effort," Pochettino told BT Sport. "I am so happy for the fans. A massive, massive achievement for the club. "I am so happy. We suffered because when we finished the game we did not know the result at Inter"
"It was two very difficult minutes, but in the end, of course, we were so happy. It's so important for the club. "We fully deserved to go through with Barcelona. We were the best teams in a difficult group"
#2 Inter drop into Europa League despite Icardi's equaliser
Inter returned to the Champions League after a 6 year wait, and were off to a great start with 6 points from their first 2 matches. But Spaletti's men could only manage 2 points in their last 4 matches to finish in 3rd place behind Tottenham
It seemed as though Mauro Icardi's 73rd-minute header, which canceled out Hirving Lozano's opener, would be enough for Inter's qualification to the last 16. With Icardi's goal and Tottenham behind at the Camp Nou, things were looking good until Tottenham equalised and ended Inter's hopes.
"We had to win, we took a goal in the first half and then we arrived many times in the opposing area and we could not make 2 goals," Icardi told Sky. "We deserved to qualify because we have shown that we can compete with everyone"
Head coach Spalletti lamented the performance of his team at San Siro, telling Sky Sports Italia:
"We were unable to keep our calm, despite the fact, everything was still possible. We gave the ball away, were tactically not organised, and PSV were allowed some dangerous counter-attacks. As the anxiety grows, you lose sight of how to control the game and it became end to end. We had our chances to score, but it wasn't the right attitude we needed at that moment"
#3 Barcelona equal Bayern Munich's Champions League record as Valverde warns Dembele
Barcelona having already qualified for the Champions League round of 16, fielded a much weakened side in the last group stage match against Tottenham. Pochettino's men arrived at the Camp Nou hoping to be the ones to break the unbeaten run of 29 matches, but could only manage a late draw against the hosts.
With this draw, Barcelona have matched Bayern Munich’s record run of unbeaten home matches in the Champions League, and they would hope to continue their run of form in the knockout stages. The Catalan side would hope to remain invincible at the Camp Nou, as they await their next opponents in the round of 16.
Following the 4-0 win over Espanyol, Ousmane Dembele turned up two hours late to a training session on Sunday, and was fined £90,000 (US$112,000). Dembele answered his critics with an early goal in the 7th minute, but manager Ernesto Valverde has warned Dembele to keep his priorities intact.
"He has made a great goal, possible for players with his talent," said the Barca boss. "We are happy with him and we said that throughout the season things happen that we try to solve internally"
"We hope that he and the rest will continue to give us much joys. "I do not know [if the case is closed], tomorrow we have training"
