Paulo Dybala and Erik Lamela impress in Tottenham’s ICC loss to Juventus

ARGENTINA may still be mourning the retirement of Lionel Messi but its national team will remain a force if Tuesday night’s match was any indication.

Juventus’ Paulo Dybala.

ARGENTINA may still be mourning the retirement of Lionel Messi but its national team will remain a force if last night was any indication.

Paulo Dybala and Erik Lamela were the stars of the show for their respective teams at the MCG last night as Juventus edged Tottenham 2-1 in the International Champions Cup.

The stay-at-home stars meant another far inferior crowd to last year and illness robbed them of Spurs midfielder Christian Erikssen, but the 31,447 who did attend were entertained.

Dybala, 22 and only capped three times by Argentina, put on a clinic in the first half and showed that he’s ready to take his game to another level this season as he inspired Juve’s two-goal lead.

Paulo Dybala (R) scores for Juventus.

But as Juve threatened to give Spurs a pre-season reality check ahead of their return to the Champions League, the second half introduction of Lamela swung the pendulum.

Dybala, whose 19 Serie A goals last season was only bettered by Juve-bound Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain, was at his predatory best after just nine minutes.

Released by countryman Roberto Pereyra who made a clever run and dribble past Cameron Carter-Vickers after a gaffe from fellow Spurs stopper Dominic Ball, Dybala gave Michel Vorm no chance with a superb left-foot finish.

New signings Miralem Pjanic and Medhi Benatia headlined Juventus’ three inclusions and were central to coach Massimiliano Allegri experimental formation.

Dybala (R) celebrates his goal with teammate Roberto Pereyra (2nd R).

Switching from a 3-5-2 to a 4-4-2, Moroccan international Benatia was the backbone of the defence while Pjanic, who joined from Roma, was the attacking point of the midfield diamond whose roaming caused Spurs issues.

That was underlined on 14 minutes when Spurs struggled to deal with Dybala’s corner and Ball’s poor clearance hit Pjanic on the edge of the area.

The Bosnian floated in a weighted cross that the powerful Benatia headed home after towering over Kieran Tripper, who unsuccessfully appealed for a foul.

Medhi Benatia scores a header.

Tottenham settled thereafter though new signing Vincent Janssen, who was the top scorer in the Dutch Eredivisie, playing as the lone striker in a 4-2-3-1, was starved of service.

Victory Wanyama, another new signing, fared better in his first game since joining from Southampton as he gave Spurs presence and composure in midfield.

Changes were made at the break but it didn’t disturb the game’s flow, with Lamela’s introduction providing Spurs with much-needed spark while Shayon Harrison, 19, was lively almost equalising in extra-time with after a Lamela layoff.

Erik Lamela of Tottenham kicks the ball.

Lamela, who replaced Korean Son Heung-min, went narrowly wide in the 56th minute before a sharp left-foot finish 11 minutes later when he was fed by Wanyama, who dispossessed Brazilian Hernanes.

Juve, with a weaker squad and five weeks out from their Serie A opener, would be more satisfied than Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino, whose Premier League opener at Everton is 17 days away.

Erik Lamela celebrates his goal.