Tottenham Hotspur

The 17-year-old showed nerves of steel to not just take on the Panenka, but execute it with a delicious dink down the middle of the goal as goalkeeper Gus Hoefsloot dived to his right.

That gave us the platform for a 4-2 win on penalties with Sandro Tonali, Andy Robertson – his first appearance in Lilywhite – and Dane Scarlett striking the decisive penalty after Martin Dubravka denied Alexander Popovic. Earlier, Mathys Tel’s wonderful free-kick was levelled by Takahiro Sekine as it ended 1-1 a the Allianz Stadium.

Having impressed as he came off the bench for the second half – he struck the top of the crossbar within a minute of coming on – Luca was a constant threat driving in from the left, continuing his fine form in pre-season.

Asked about Luca’s penalty in his interview with SPURSPLAY, Roberto responded: “I was number 10 as a player, so you can imagine how I can like him as a player. I think now we have a bigger responsibility with him to improve him, to help him to become stronger physically and to give him the right space to bring him to become the player that people imagine.”

Asked about Luca’s performance in his post-match press conference, Roberto said: “We have to manage him like a precious diamond. We have to help him to improve in the last decision. Physically, work harder to become stronger because this time of football, he needs to be strong, and to give him space when there is the right moment. I usually give time to all the young players I work with in my career, and he is a potential special player.”

Over the years we've had some masters of the art when it comes to striking a dead ball.

Think Gazza against Arsenal at Wembley in 1991. Think Christian Ziege against Arsenal in 2002. Think of the Bale against Lyon. Think Christian Eriksen. period.

And there's been countless others. Jermaine Jenas at Old Trafford. Dimitar Berbatov at Upton Park. Kieran Trippier at Wembley against Fulham.

Mathys on his stunning free kick

But, what Spurs free kick is your favourite?

Let us know in the comments below...

Over the years we've had some masters of the art when it comes to striking a dead ball.

Think Gazza against Arsenal at Wembley in 1991. Think Christian Ziege against Arsenal in 2002. Think of the Bale against Lyon. Think Christian Eriksen. period.

And there's been countless others. Jermaine Jenas at Old Trafford. Dimitar Berbatov at Upton Park. Kieran Trippier at Wembley against Fulham.

Mathys on his stunning free kick

But, what Spurs free kick is your favourite?

Let us know in the comments below...

SPURSPLAY

We begin with a trip to Southampton on Wednesday 19 August and that will then be followed by our first home game of the season when we take on Arsenal on Sunday 30 August.

The competition is split into two phases throughout the season, starting with the first phase, which will run from August to September.

The top half teams from the Northern and Southern Divisions are then placed into Division One while the remaining sides will compete in Division Two in the second phase later in the year.

We will compete in the Southern Division alongside Southampton, Arsenal, London City Lionesses, Ipswich Town, Bristol City, Crystal Palace, Chelsea, Brighton & Hove Albion and West Ham United.

As previously announced, our youngsters will also compete in the FA Women’s National League (FAWNL) Cup and will enter the group phase from August to September.

Further pre-season friendlies announcements will also be made in due course alongside our fixture with Peterborough United on Sunday 9 August at Pims Parks (kick-off 2pm).

Home fixtures in bold

Cup fixtures in italic

August

Southampton (A) – Wednesday 19 August

London Bees (A) – Thursday 27 August (FAWNL Cup)

Arsenal (H) – Sunday 30 August

September

London City Lionesses (A) – Wednesday 2 September

Northampton Town (A) – Sunday 6 September

Ipswich Town (H) – Wednesday 9 September

Bristol City (A) – Wednesday 23 September

Real Bedford (A) - Sunday 27 September

It was another ideal test as we count down to the big kick-off in the Premier League – Brentford away, 22 August – with the hosts runners-up in last season’s A-League Grand Fina, a team with a possession-based philosophy confident of playing out from the back.

Mathys Tel, bright again on the left, gave us the lead with a fine free-kick into the top corner on 29 minutes at the Allianz Stadium. Sydney levelled somewhat fortuitously on 54 minutes when Kota Takia inadvertently diverted a pass into the path of Takahiro Sekine, who finished one-on-one.

Andy Robertson made his first appearance off the bench for the start of the second half alongside Sandro Tonali. However, it was another substitute, Luca Williams-Barnett, who caught the eye again with his direct running – he then stole the show in the penalty shoot-out with a ‘Panenka’ finish in the first penalty of the shoot-out, which we won 4-2.

Speaking afterwards, Roberto said: “I think we played well, especially in the first half. In the second half, we changed many players, but good quality of play, good performances today and I think we are working very well with the younger players.

“It's not so easy because we have to be focused, we don't take risks. We have to manage the minutes we give to the players, every player has a different plan, but I think we are working well. The young players are doing very well, they give us more solutions. This period of the season it's very important to improve the physical condition, the quality of the play but we can't take risks to lose any player.

“The physical condition is not the same for every player. Some players are ready to play 70 minutes, 80 minutes, naybe Archie Gray, Ben Davies, Mateus Fernandes, even (though) today he didn't play, and someone is going in the right direction, Gallagher is another player who is able to play 80 minutes, like Matys Tel, like Manor Solomon, like Richarlison.

“Other players, they are working to increase their condition, but I think all teams, also Chelsea, also Liverpool or other teams with a lot of players who played in the World Cup, I think they are spending the same time.”

On Robertson’s first appearance and Tonali’s return, he added: “Two big players for us, different players, special players. I think they are not ready yet to play (90 minutes) because normally we are working to improve their physical condition, I’m very happy to work with them.”

SPURSPLAY

SPURSPLAY

In our third pre-season game, we made it three wins from three with a 4-2 victory on penalties after a 1-1 draw in normal time.

Mathys Tel put us ahead just before the half-hour mark with a stunning free kick as he continued his bright start to pre-season before Takehiro Sekine levelled 10 minutes into the second half.

Still level after the 90 minutes, the game was settled with a penalty shootout and, thanks to a superb save from Martin Dubravka, we prevailed 4-2.

For the game, we were missing a number of senior players, including Kevin Danso, Micky van de Ven, Dominic Solanke, James Maddison, Jan Paul van Hecke, Destiny Udogie and Mateus Fernandes.

In his post-match press conference, Roberto De Zerbi was asked by a member of the media for an update on the players.

"Danso, van de Ven, Solanke, Jan Paul van Hecke, I thought today they were not ready yet to play without risk," Roberto responded. "Maybe some of them can play the next game, on Saturday against Chelsea. Maybe not in the beginning, maybe at the beginning (Andy) Robertson and Sandro Tonali. It is about managing the players, especially after the World Cup or after big injuries like Udogie or Solanke had. They suffered long injuries last season and after a long trip, after the jet lag, ahead the beginning of the season, I wouldn’t like to take any risks."

He was then asked specifically about Mateus Fernandes.

"Fernandes is just fatigue, in the calf, and also for him, we took the decision not to take any risks," He said. "And next week, when we return to London, he will be able to work."

SPURSPLAY