Erik Lamela inspired a Tottenham Hotspur victory over Red Star Belgrade.
With all the talk of Giovani Lo Celso ahead of Tottenham’s tie with Red Star Belgrade, it was another Argentine who stepped up.
Winger Erik Lamela led the way, providing two assists for Tottenham in the opening 16 minutes.
He created goals for Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son, marking his 200th appearance for Spurs in a positive way.
This was a sign of what Lamela is capable of, but his influence on games is too rarely seen.
The 27-year-old had only managed one assist this season so far, that coming in the game against Manchester City at the end of August.
That was also the only game this season in which he has scored at all before last night.
His double assist against Red Star was just the second match in which he has set up or scored a goal in 2019.
Before the City game, you have to go back to last December to when Lamela last provided an assist for his team. His last goal before the City match was last November.
This inconsistency is no good. He needs to be a more reliable influence on games. This is his sixth season at Tottenham, and still he only performs in flashes, like it was his first season.
This match has a chance to be a game which propels Lamela onto a run of form. But this was said after the City game in August too.
The excuses may soon run out. This was a positive night for Lamela, but it will only really be so, if he is able to build on it.
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