Semifinal vs Inter

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

byJordi 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.

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