FC Internazionale Milano welcome the holders to San Siro for the first leg of a UEFA Champions League semi-final rich in sub-plots.

• FC Barcelona travel to Italy seeking to become the first team since Inter's neighbours AC Milan 20 years ago to win back-to-back European crowns. As for Inter, their goal is a first final appearance in the competition since 1972 but first they must find the net against a Barcelona side whom they are yet to score against after four meetings.

• For the second time this season, Zlatan Ibrahimović and Maxwell return to their old stamping ground to face a Nerazzurri side featuring three former Barcelona players in Samuel Eto'o, Thiago Motta and Ricardo Quaresma.

• The presence of José Mourinho in the home dugout adds another layer of intrigue given his history as a former assistant coach at Barcelona – not to mention several high-profile contests with the Spanish titleholders during his time as Chelsea FC manager.

• Barcelona earned a goalless draw when they visited Inter in September and another closely contested encounter appears on the cards given the unbeaten records of both teams – the Nerazzurri at home and Josep Guardiola's visitors on the road – in the 2009/10 UEFA Champions League.

UEFA

Barca all D-Way

Barca should and hopefully would emerge victorious.

It seems every Journalist who favour Inter to win this tie all cite the 'Mourinho Factor'(whatever that is? ) as their Man Reason for doing so.

Mourinho's a trickster. When the odds don't favor him, he almost always comes up with some cunning game plan that almost always works, swaying things in his favor.
That's the 'Mourinho factor' and it's something Pep should watch out for, if he is smart.

Jose always has something up his sleeve.

@Khanye
Dearie, please include a poll.

Cristalz:

Jose always has something up his sleeve.

So he thinks.
As I see it Barca would dominate proceedings home and away. If they take their chances they'll sail through however if they fail to do so. . . . . .

Roma's David pizzaro never fails to give the Inter Midfield a good run around and Mind you the dude is basically an extremely poor man's Xavi. As long Barca don't get caught out on a counter they'll be fine.

I'm itching to place a bet.
JM will cause an upset.

A boring 1.1 game that may have an Inter player copping a red which will justify Mou's already planned negative football.

I will rather wait for the battle of wits at Nou Camp.

hmmn!! this is giving me sleepless night like am Guardiola,
can't place a bet on this, but one thing am sure of is the lack of entertainment
this is going to be like a "madrid"-barca tough call.
Peeps, wish us (BARCA) luck abeg

How can anyone call an inter win an upset? Na wa oh!

Whatever happens, i am here to watch.

~Borat~:

How can anyone call an inter win an upset? Na wa oh!

ME TOO I SURPRISE

Jose cant do jack against this barcelona side with high self confidence and determination to make history.
jose factor that couldnot not fetched his team a short on target in camp nou during the group stages.
His factor that could not stops barcelona's shaky frontline from not disorganizing his solid defence.
he can say whatever he want to say,its 180mins(x) game and we shall wait for him in Camp nou to teach him and his team some footie lessons.
those that have being to camp nou knows its not a child's play,its indeed a slaughtering ground.
forza barca!

I don't care what Mou thinks, i know he can't do anything, we have played his team times without number and this one won't be different, we are surely beating them at home, the least is a draw. (but there must be goals)

we shall see na 90mins

What a game this is going to be. This match isn't just going to be your normal Inter v Barca tie, read why here  http://gamegist.com/2010/04/20/champions-league-semi-final-first-leg-inter-milan-v-barcelona-a-clash-of-the-titans/
My verdict, Barca wins 2-1

ogazi007:

Jose cant do jack against this barcelona side with high self confidence and determination to make history.
jose factor that couldnot not fetched his team a short on target in camp nou during the group stages.
His factor that could not stops barcelona's shaky frontline from not disorganizing his solid defence.
he can say whatever he want to say,its 180mins(x) game and we shall wait for him in Camp nou to teach him and his team some footie lessons.
those that have being to camp nou knows its not a child's play,its indeed a slaughtering ground.
forza barca!

Did you slaughter rubin kazan?

honeric01:

I don't care what Mou thinks, i know he can't do anything, we have played his team times without number and this one won't be different, we are surely beating them at home, the least is a draw. (but there must be goals)

This is quite disrespectful and unnecessary arrogance to inter milan ala Jose Muorinho.

Barca all D-way

Sky Italia predicts Internazionale line up against Barca.


-Cesar-
-Maicon-Lucio-Samuel-Zanetti-
-Mota-Cambiaso-Muntati-Stankovic-
-Sneider-
-Milito-


That is what I call packing the bus

We didnt see the Jose factor when Man Utd brutally sodomised him last season

Black_Revo:

Did you slaughter rubin kazan?

This is quite disrespectful and unnecessary arrogance to inter milan ala Jose Muorinho. 

And where is Rubin Kazan now?
you must be kidding if you think you can be as lucky as Rubin Kazan to only had three chances in camp nou and scored twice,while barca had dozens of chances and could not put them away,i dont know how formidable your  team are to lay claims to a ball that hit the bar and didnot pass the goal lines as the effort of the team.(a bit of luck i suppose)Barcelona hit bar twice in that game,Rubin Kazan were lucky the same way arsenal were lucky in the first leg.we shall see who go madrid after the second leg in camp nou next week.

dayokanu:

Sky Italia predicts Internazionale line up against Barca.


-Cesar-
-Maicon-Lucio-Samuel-Zanetti-
-Mota-Cambiaso-Muntati-Stankovic-
-Sneider-
-Milito-


That is what I call packing the bus

Are you expecting anything different. . .

What Mourhno will deploy is a very defensive and compact team that will play "containment" football hoping he can grab a goal against via fast break and set-pieces.I am surprised he is using Milito instead of Eto'o but i guess he will introduce him during 2nd half.

The disadvantage of this formation is that what happened to Chelsea last season could be their lot.

My line-up would be
--------------VV-----------------
Alves--pique--Millito--Puyol
----------Busquets------------
-----xavi-----------keita------
Messi-----------ibra-----------Pedro

dayokanu:

We didnt see the Jose factor when Man Utd brutally sodomised him last season

Exactly My points.
I've already said what there is to say if Barca take their chances they'll win if not it's 50-50.

http://www.goal.com/en/news/1716/champions-league/2010/04/19/1885740/jose-mourinho-warns-barcelona-that-they-will-face-a-much

ogazi007:

And where is Rubin Kazan now?
you must be kidding if you think you can be as lucky as Rubin Kazan to only had three chances in camp nou and scored twice,while barca had dozens of chances and could not put them away,i dont know how formidable your  team are to lay claims to a ball that hit the bar and didnot pass the goal lines as the effort of the team.(a bit of luck i suppose)Barcelona hit bar twice in that game,Rubin Kazan were lucky the same way arsenal were lucky in the first leg.we shall see who go madrid after the second leg in camp nou next week.

Arsenal were unfortunate and if they are to meet barca again i will surely place my bet on them, that game proved something which will only be visible the next time they meet. It doesn't matter where they are now Rubin, Chelsea and Liverpool have defeated Barcelona in the past and that's the fact i am pointing to you. Barca is beatable both home and especially  away in that camp nou, as you have already said lets watch and see who goes through. I don't know why you guys just suddenly lack respect for other clubs and coaches because you won six trophies last season. Remember you haven't won anything yet this season?

Arsenal were unfortunate in terms of what?lol.
Bring the liverpool for this pep barcelona and see if they wont be humbled.
Chelsea played very well,if not for the ref they would have knocked barca out lmao,its the same old story.
if you dare try attacking footie with barcelona,you will be history.if you pack bus(anti football)you will end up like chelsea.
Jose is good,but pep is smarter.

Hope you are not forgetting the injured arsenal players in the home and away fixture? What if liverpool is brought to this so called barca and they are not humbled? what will be your excuse? lol. Rubin played attacking footie with you and defeated you, inter defeated chelsea home and away so watch out what happens tonight. This is the final match for inter and not in madrid, so watch out for a different inter and not the one you met during the group stage.

@ Black_Revo: What's your prob with barca

The confirmed line-ups are out!

INTER (4-3-1-2): [/b]Julio Cesar; Maicon, Lucio, Samuel, Zanetti; Motta, Cambiasso, Pandev; Sneijder; Diego Milito, Eto;o

[b]Barcelona (4-3-3): Valdes; Dani Alves, Pique, Puyol, Maxwell; Xavi, Busquets, Keita; Messi, Ibrahimovic, Pedro

about to kick-off

khanye:

@ Black_Revo: What's your prob with barca

Nah no prob with barca just discussing footie

Messi ohhhhhhhhh

nice try