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da esport bet： Fernando Llorente is Tottenham Hotspur’s Champions League talisman.
On the chalkboard
The Spaniard came off the bench against Ajax on Wednesday evening and changed the game.
With Spurs 2-0 down and desperate to turn the game around, score three goals and head into the final, Llorente was introduced for Victor Wanyama.
The substitution changed Spurs’ shape and allowed the Spaniard to play alongside Son Heung-Min up front in the absence of Harry Kane.
With Llorente’s imposing frame occupying both Matthijs De Ligt and Daley Blind, space was freed up for Lucas Moura to complete perhaps the unlikeliest hat-trick in Champions League history.
His first goal was a lightning counter-attack, his second a goal out of nothing, the winger pouncing on an errant claim by Ajax stopper Andre Onana.
The third, though, the third came from Llorente. A long ball forward from Moussa Sissoko was won by the striker, Dele Alli welcomed it in, flicked the ball through to the Brazil international and he sent the ball into the bottom corner.
Llorente is 34 and he is surely past the point of ever being considered a first-choice striker again.
However, his experience in the competition is invaluable; he laid on a vital assist in the 2-1 win over PSV Eindhoven in the group stages, scored in the first leg thumping of Borussia Dortmund in the last-16 and netted the winning goal in the amazing away goal triumph over Manchester City.
The clutch player
Is there a second-choice striker who is as valuable as Llorente?
His goals have helped Spurs to the final and, while he is unlikely to play much part in the showpiece against Liverpool, his contribution has been invaluable.
Llorente’s contract expires this summer but there is a very valid argument to be made for giving him a fresh deal.
Yes, he is ageing, but on Wednesday he remembered how to be an elite striker.
If this form continues, there can be no better back-up to Kane.