Spurs loan watch: European round up

 This midweek, as well as action in the English Football League, there was European football for Tottenham Hotspur loanees – with action in domestic cup competitions. 

Frustrating midweek on the continent for some Spurs loanees

On Tuesday evening in the Copa Del Rey, there was no such luck this time around for Alejo Veliz and RCD Espanyol, as they were knocked out by fourth tier side UD Barbastro, with a 2-0 defeat.

As for Veliz himself, he was back in the starting XI, having been an unused sub at the weekend, and played the 90 minutes. The striker had four shots throughout, and missed a big chance with one of those attempts. Very frustrating evening, both collectively and individually.

On Wednesday evening, Bryan Gil’s Girona were also in Copa Del Rey action, as they too faced fourth tier opposition, away to SD Logrones. The midfielder was given the night off, seemingly, and was not included in the match day squad.

However, in his absence, it all went wrong. After two hours, the two sides could not be separated, and the fourth tier side prevailed, with a 4-3 win in the penalty shootout. Somewhat controversially, with the decisive penalty seeming to go in off the underside of the crossbar, but going down as a miss.

In the last two nights, two Spurs loanees sides have been knocked out by lower league sides. They are only equivalent tier above Tamworth, so let’s all hope that a precedent is not being set with these results.

Finally, on Thursday evening, there was Beker van Belgie cup action for Luka Vuskovic and Alfie Devine’s KVC Westerlo side, as they faced Anderlecht on the road. For this game, both Spurs loanees were named amongst the substitutes, with the league seen as a bigger priority.

Despite going a goal up early on, Westerlo were soon pegged back by an equaliser, and would go on to lose the game 4-1 in the end, ending their chances of domestic cup for this season. As for the players, Vuskovic remained an unused sub, whilst Devine came on for the last 27 minutes or so, when the game was already 4-1 and done and dusted.

So, in the end, all three teams were knocked out of the cups, with two teams knocked out to sides in the fourth tier of Spanish football. Not the most productive midweek at the office, to say the least. Still, full focus on league campaigns from here on in – other than Girona, who are still fighting for a play-off spot in the UEFA Champions League for this season.