Tottenham certainly don’t like to do things the easy way.
Wednesday night’s victory over Inter Milan was the first tick in the box of two required in order to progress to the last sixteen of the Champions League but how those two late Inter goals in Italy back in September have made this whole process a tense affair.
Even a draw in Milan would have made the situation palpable but at least Spurs have fought themselves back into the frame and for the first time in a while have their fate in their own hands.
Substitute Christian Eriksen was the hero for the Liliywhites on Wednesday night as his goal earned Spurs the three-points they needed in order to stay alive in this season’s elite competition.
However, as if beating Inter was not hard enough, they now need to do the same against Barcelona IN Barcelona.
Whew, that is enough to make anyone sweat whilst Inter take on Group B cannon fodder PSV Eindhoven in Milan.
You can take nothing for granted in football but Inter know they need to win and most likely will against a side who have no chance of even making the Europa League and are hardly likely to play a full-strength side with the Eredivisie to focus on.
So, let’s just take an Inter victory as a given, that means Tottenham MUST beat Barcelona and hope Inter keep the score line low.
However, if anyone can do it, Spurs can.
A trip to the Nou Camp is not something to be as feared as it once was.
After all, Barca have already won the group so there is little sense in taking too many risks especially as they travel to Levante five days after the game.
Another glimmering ray of hope is that Barcelona have been beaten at home this season, Real Betis won a thrilling La Liga encounter 3-4 to inflict Barca’s first home defeat in two years.
The task may still appear to be daunting and there is a case to argue that it should never have come to this, but here we are and perhaps for the first time ever, Tottenham may head to the Nou Camp as equals.