Lucas Moura was left on the bench as Tottenham beat Arsenal.
Lucas Moura was left on the substitutes’ bench by Mauricio Pochettino on Saturday during the north London derby win over Arsenal, as he is yet to make his debut for his new side.
Harry Kane’s 32nd goal of the season gave Spurs enough to earn all three points at Wembley, with Pochettino deciding to bring on fellow countryman Erik Lamela in the 70th minute – replacing Son Heung-Min.
He also brought on Victor Wanyama in the closing minutes, but decided against a third change as January recruit Moura sat on the bench. However, could Pochettino be saving the Brazilian for Tuesday night?
Spurs go up against Italian champions Juventus in Turin, as they look to defy the odds and beat last season’s Champions League finalists in order to progress into the quarter finals.
The likes of Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen are all expected to start in the final third in what is one of Spurs’ biggest games of the season, but should Moura be given the chance to shine too?
Including the South American version of the Champions League – the Copa Sudamericana – Moura has huge experience of playing at such a level, making 50 appearances in both competitions.
He has scored six goals in those games, as well as adding nine assists, with 15 of his 38 Champions League appearances coming from the bench. The 35-time Brazil international, then, knows how to do it on the European scene.
With Son featuring for 70 minutes of Spurs’ match on Saturday, surely it would be worth resting the South Korea international and instead starting Moura with the 25-year-old rested and much more experienced in Europe.
His speed and knowledge of the competition could just be the crucial factor in seeing Spurs shine on the counter attack, and secure an unlikely win in Italy.
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