All Bar�a�s football

Match

Marcador del partit

Date: Tuesday, 20 Apr
Competition: ???label.competicio1???
Stadium: Giuseppe Meazza, Milan

Resultat:

Inter M.: 3
FC Barcelona: 1

Match report

Match Report
Pre-Match

Match Report

More info

Goals

0-1 Pedro (min 19)
1-1 Sneijder (min 29)
2-1 Maicon (min 48)
3-1 Milito (min 60)

All to do at the Camp Nou (3-1)

Jordi Clos

In a game full of incident and controversy, Barca went down 3-1 to Inter Milan tonight. Pedro put Barca ahead in the first half before Sneijder equalised and in the second half, goals from Maicon and Milito gave Mourinhio�s team the 3-1.

Pedro’s 19th minute opener seemed to have set Barca on the path to a comfortable night, but Inter’s physical approach, together with the ref’s permissive attitude saw them battle back into the game and Sneijder’s reply on the half hour galvanised the home team. The second half proved tough for Guardiola’s men and Maicon’s early strike was followed by a controversial third as Milito headed past Valdes from point blank with the Barca defenders appealing for offside. Barca laid siege to the Inter goal in the last half hour, but the goal wouldn’t come and it’s all to do next week when the two teams meet in the second leg at the Nou Camp.

Pedro on target again

Mourinho and Guardiola both sent out their teams to play in a 4-3-3 formation, but it was Barca who dominated the early exchanges, though Inter had chances on the break. It was one of those opportunities, when Milito’s shot was beaten away by Valdes, that led to the first goal as Barca surged up field and Maxwell cut the ball back from the by-line for Pedro to fire home.

Sneijder equaliser

Barca were controlling possession, but the Inter attackers looked especially dangerous on the break, taking advantage of any loose balls in the middle to release the pacey Milito and just before the half hour the Argentinean came close with a shot from the right across goal that went inches wide. A few minutes later he sucked in defenders as he received in the middle and cleverly set up the unmarked Sneijder to fire low past Valdes for the equaliser. Mourinho’s tactics were clear now: pressure Barca into losing the ball in the middle and quickly get the ball over the defence for Milito to run onto. Xavi was finding it hard to encounter space and Messi was being closely shadowed.

Bad start to the second half

It was a bad start to the second half for Barca, when on 48 minutes Inter robbed the ball with what looked like a foul on Messi in midfield and rounded off their counter with Maicon toe-poking past Valdes. The crowd were baying for more, but Barca came back with a Messi shot and a Busquets header, both of which Julio Cesar did very well to keep out. Then on the hour mark, Milito headed in from close range, with the Barca defenders screaming for what looked a clear offside.

Epic final half hour gets no rewards

With Inter limiting themselves to a rearguard defence, the last 30 minutes saw Barca camped out in the Italians’ area, with Abidal on for Ibra, Maxwell pushed forward and Pique moving into a centre forward role. The Catalan nearly got the vital second for Barca only to be denied by some heroic defending, but the team never stopped pushing forward and will take heart from their commitment ahead of next week’s return leg in Barcelona.

Preview

Ones to watch

Much of the media focus has been on Barca’s outstanding young forward Lionel Messi but Mourinho has denied that he plans to man mark the Argentinean international. And no fewer than five players would miss the second leg if they see a yellow card tonight - Samuel, Maicon, Zanetti and Stankovic (Inter) and Puyol (FC Barcelona).

Tough test for Barca

John Chaplin

On Tuesday evening, FC Barcelona face Inter Milan in the Giuseppe Meazza in what must surely be one of the most important games of the season so far (kick off 20:45, R@dio Bar�a and TVE).

Barca go into the first leg of their Champions League semi-final in Milan after a hectic but largely successful week that saw them take two wins and a draw from their three league games against Real Madrid, Deportivo and Espanyol. An unexpected and arduous journey by coach due to the chaos caused by the Europe-wide disruption to air traffic, has provoked fears that the players may not be at their best. However, Barca Technical Secretary Txiki Begiristain and manger Pep Guardiola have both insisted the lure of the prize on offer will cancel out any travel fatigue.

However, Inter too are looking in good shape. They are unbeaten all season at home in all competitions – Coppa, Serie A and Champions League – and they are currently locked in a fierce battle for top spot in the league table with Roma, trailing them by just one point. In fact, it’s easy to see the parallels between two sides that still dream of a domestic league and Champions League double.

Group stage results favour Barca

When the two sides met earlier in the season in the group stage of the Champions League, Barca secured a valuable goalless draw in Italy followed by a 2-0 win in the Camp Nou, with first half goals from Piqu� and Pedro. In fact, Barca have an excellent record against Inter Milan in Italy where they have not lost in four European visits. However, Inter Milan have dominated the Serie A in recent seasons and are not a side to be underestimated. Globe-trotting manager Jose Mourinho was brought in to win the club’s first European Cup since the heady days of the 60’s and he insisted in Monday evening’s UEFA press conference that his team are playing better now than when they met Barca in the CL group stage in November. Last Friday they secured a morale boosting 2-0 win over Juventus.

Guardiola has taken a squad of 20 players to Milan including Barca Atletic central defender Fontas. Meanwhile, French international fullback Eric Abidal is still an injury doubt.

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