Spurs’ late show denies Barcelona

Tottenham 1 Barcelona 1

Tottenham earned a creditable draw against European champions Barcelona in a pre-season friendly at Wembley last night. Enfield-born Jake Livermore celebrated his new contract with the club by scoring a late equaliser after Bojan Krkic had put the Spanish side ahead in the first half.

Livermore's new deal, until 2011, had been announced earlier in the day and he found the net shortly after coming on as a substitute in the 80th minute.

Spurs manager Harry Redknapp auditioned four possibilities to plug the hole in the centre of his defence during the game. With Spurs short on numbers, Vedran Corluka, Tom Huddlestone, Pascal Chimbonda and Dorian Dervite filled in at centre-back.

"I haven't got a lot of options," Redknapp said afterwards. "It was difficult with the movement they had to deal with. It was a different system, unlike a team from England when they would have a big centre-forward to play against."

The Spanish and European title holders selected a severely weakened team, with only Yaya Touré remaining from the side that defeated Manchester United two months ago in the Champions League final. Eric Abidal, who was suspended for that game, started and so did Bojan, but Spurs' makeshift defence were spared an evening trying to keep out Thierry Henry, Lionel Messi or Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who has agreed personal terms ahead of a move from Internazionale.

Barça coach Pep Guardiola said he felt the future was bright for his club given the youngsters he has available.

"There are five or six players at the top level," he said. "They are young but the season is long and it is comforting to know I can use them if there are problems."

With Jonathan Woodgate, Michael Dawson and Ledley King sidelined for Spurs, Huddlestone had to drop back to centre-back, with Corluka shifting inside from the right from the start. Redknapp went with Jermain Defoe in attack on his own and Spurs struggled to make chances, allowing Barcelona to settle into the game.

They took the lead in the 32nd minute when Touré went on a mazy run past Wilson Palacios and Corluka. Huddlestone tackled him cleanly but the ball ran for Bojan, who lashed home at the near post. It could have got worse when former Chelsea forward Eidur Gudjohnsen chipped through for Pedro Rodriguez to tuck home, but he was harshly ruled offside.

Luka Modric struck the bar for Spurs in their first genuine attack, with Benoît Assou-Ekotto's effort tipped over when the rebound eventually fell for him.

After the break, Robbie Keane was among the four substitutes Redknapp brought on. It meant Spurs switched to 4-4-2 and they had a good shout for a penalty turned down just before the hour mark when Albert Dalmau appeared to handle at the far post.

Heurelho Gomes saved well when Jeffren Suarez was sent through, while Modric had a close-range effort bravely blocked by substitute goalkeeper Jose Maria Pinto. Livermore headed home in the 83rd minute, getting on the end of Assou-Ekotto's cross.

Tottenham Hotspur: Cudicini, Hutton, Corluka, Huddlestone, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon, Jenas, Palacios, O'Hara, Modric, Defoe. Substitutes: Gomes (gk), Keane, Naughton, Chimbonda, Rose, Livermore, Dervite, Bostock, Obika.

Barcelona: Jorquera, Montoya, Caceres, Fontas, Abidal, Victor Sanchez, Touré Yaya, Gudjohnsen, Pedrito, Bojan, Gai. Substitutes: Pinto (gk), Dalmau, Adriano, Muniesa, Estasandin, Mariarueda, Keita, Dos Santos, Suarez, Rochina, Oraol.

Referee: M Halsey (Lancashire).