Match Report: Barcelona 1-1 Tottenham

The way we see it, this match report can take two possible courses: we could go into a lengthy analysis of Pep's outfit and his eccentric hand gestures from the sidelines all match long, or we could talk about how the kids played.

Because Barca's lineup was almost completely made up of just kids from the B-team... and that's not something you see everyday. So, that's the direction we'll take. It's enough to say that Pep looked smoking as always, and his gesticulating is, in the end, something we've gotten used to (yet never ceases to excite us).

Now then: the kids. Fontas, Montoya, Sanchez, Pedro, Gai and Bojan (who is, despite two years of being a first-teamer, still a youngster) all started the match, alongside Yaya, Abidal, Jorquera, Caceres and Guddy. We don't have much to say for the last three, while Abidal was good and quick, but Yaya! He was Barca's pillar of strength, put on the field to guide the youngsters and show them how it's done.

He gets a large part of the credit for Barca's goal, that run from midfield was amazing - especially for someone of his build. See, when Messi, Xavi and Iniesta ain't there, Yaya compensates and does their thing for them. We're just loving him right now.

Yaya set up the chance then tapped it to a perfectly positioned Bojan, who took the shot and sent the ball crashing home. Great finishing, amazing set-up, a spectacular goal. Perfect way to open up the season's scoring.

Pep really took advantage of the no limit on substitution in friendlies, rolling out an entirely different lineup at the half, with B-teamers Muniesa, Espasandín, Dalmau, Rueda, Jonathan Dos Santos, Jeffren, Rochina and Edu Oriol alongside debutant Henrique, Keita, and Pinto. The second half was played out with Tottenham grabbing a last-breath equlizer, which kind of annoyed us at first, but we don't mind much. These were our B-team babies up against a full team of Premier League stars, and they did a hell of a job.

The kids were great, rose to the occasion and made everyone proud. We're elated with them all, and special mention goes to wonderkid Muniesa, Pedro who has proved he can be our Messi back-up any time, and Rocina who is the defintion of class. Jonathan and Gai look so promising, and we want to stop at Victor Sanchez too; although we've seen him pay several times last season, he stood out last night for one reason: Pep put him in midfield instead of the defense line where he usually plays. And he was just awesome; looks like the boy's touch has been found.

Ah, and let's not forget Henrique: his debut wasn't as hot as it might have been, but he's got the potential. Just had a rough day. The kid will do great things, all he needs is time.

All in all, the youngsters were amazing. Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp's post-match comment says it all: "I take so much out of that game, almost as much as any game I've been involved with. It is fantastic to see a football club built on those lines. The pressure they put you under makes it so difficult. All those young players were excellent and it is not just the passing but the work rate. It was an amazing football lesson. I wish our youth team had been here tonight."

We're glad Pep chose to play the kids for this one, they got thier chance to shine and oh boy, did they do it. Barca's star Lionel Messi warmed up with the rest of them and was on the ready to come on and save the day, but he didn't have to. Bojan and the B-teamers did us all proud.