Comeback Of The Season

To suggest that Barcelona will have to pull off the mother of all comebacks would be overstepping the mark, but there can be no denial of the fact that the reigning Spanish and European champions will have to stage a dramatic rally in the second leg of their semi-final tie against Inter in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

The 3-1 deficit from the first leg at the San Siro last week means that the Catalans will progress to the final if they win 2-0, but a goal from the Nerazzurri will force them to score at last thrice.

The last time the two sides met in Barcelona was in the group stages of the Champions League earlier in the season, with Barca winning 2-0. It was a game in which Pep Guardiola's side typified their footballing identity and philosophy as Inter had no answers whatsoever to Barca's creativity, coherence and superior game plan.

But things have changed since then, as the Italian champions showed in the first leg when they comprehensively defeating Barca.

Barcelona warmed up for this potentially nerve-jangling fixture with a comfortable 3-1 win against Xerez in the Primera Division in Spain on Saturday evening which maintained their one-point advantage over Real Madrid in the race for the Liga title.

Barca have a formidable record at home both in the league and in the Champions League: the last time they hosted a side at Camp Nou in a European Cup tie, they won 4-1. That was against Arsenal in the second leg of the quarter-final.

Nevertheless, Barcelona will be aware that Inter are a much more intelligent and stronger side than the Premier League team and that the Italians will start as slight favourites. The Inter midfield overran their Barca counterparts in the first leg and the Catalans will be keen to see that they win the battles in the middle of the park from the start.

TEAM NEWS

Barcelona

The defending European champions were without key midfielder Andres Iniesta for the first leg because of a torn right thigh muscle and the Spanish international will be out of the second leg for the same reason. Carles Puyol is suspended, which means that Gabriel Milito is likely to slot into central defence to partner Gerard Pique.

Sergio Busquets had a rather average game in Milan last week in defensive midfield and coach Pep Guardiola might like to change him with Yaya Toure, although the Ivorian starting the league fixture against Xerez on Saturday night suggests that Busquets was merely being given some rest ahead of Wednesday's clash.

Probable Line-up (4-3-3): [/b]Valdes, Alves, Milito, Pique, Maxwell; Xavi, Busquets, Keita; Messi, Ibrahimovic, Pedro
[b]
Inter

Dejan Stankovic is suspended for the second leg against Barcelona, but will still travel with the squad. Wesley Sneijder was struggling with a hamstring strain he picked up during the weekend's Serie A game against Atalanta but has overcome the knock and should start.

Troublesome teenage striker Mario Balotelli has also been included in the squad, having sat out the weekend fixture with Atalanta at the request of president Massimo Moratti following his antics at the end of last Tuesday's first leg.

Back-up goalkeeper Francesco Toldo makes the squad after shrugging off a minor thigh problem, whilst Davide Santon is also a surprise inclusion having seemingly overcome a knee problem.

Probable Line-up (4-3-1-2): Julio Cesar, Maicon, Lucio, Samuel, Chivu; Zanetti, Cambiasso, Motta; Sneijder; Milito, Eto'o

Goal

it'll take a lot to score 2 unreplied goals at the camp nou. to add insult upon injury, Eto'o should now score against his former chums .
may the better team win sha.

^^ Nay! Eto cant do a thing, instead, Ibrah shd score against them
this is a game am not sure i want to watch, dont wanna develop an heartattack from Ibra's inefficiency.
but why can't Iniesta be injected like shrek and be made to play just this leg?
am so scared, but i have a feeling we re going thru, we ve been known to alwaz stand on our feet wen it matters most.
FORZA BARCA!!

I think one way to beat Inter is to go wide,but I'm not so sure Barca plays that way.

Barca to win 3-nil courtesy my dream. . .
Inter to win 3-2 on aggregate courtesy my head.
I just wish messi does not turn up as he did against the gayners

Hmmmm!my heart go jiggy jiggy!we have found ourselves in an unusual situation.
its not over untill u have given up,we will shock the world.
go BARCA!!!

Barca would be screwed this evening. A club full of shits. All need from Inter is 2 goals.

Tonight!!! We spartans go out for the inter kill.

Its Inter Vs Bayern in Madrid. Barca should forget it and concentrate on La Liga.  Ibra is a waste just like Berba in my club. EFCC should investigate those transfers.

Morinho all the way.

Too bad for Barcelona; its the end of the road for them today.

Barca will shock the whole world today.
forza barca

barca to beat inter 4-1.

scantee:

Barca will shock the whole world today.
forza barca

Yes you are already shocking the world by sending your fans to attack the "special one". SHAMEFUL

na_so:

Yes you are already shocking the world by sending your fans to attack the "special one". SHAMEFUL

Meaning

My Heart Says Barca But My Head Says Inter

chic2pimp:

My Heart Says Barca But My Head Says Inter

just do not worry. after the game ur head/heart go dey shout barcaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

remove ur heart and live your head UP MOURINHO

Millions that support Inter is not because of the team but because of an achiever mourinho

though am a chelsea fan, but barca should 4get the CL, its inter all d way. its just going to be draw. even if barca wins today's match, i can bet it that they are already OUT, FORZA CHELSEA,

I'll be back here to laugh at you "bishes" when inter goes on to the final, however they do so

Take it or leave it, this match is ending Barcalona 4-0 Inter

macfarland:

Take it or leave it, this match is ending Barcalona 4-0 Inter

You cant be seriouse man. Which of the joints are u drinking at the moment?

Well am hoping and wishing Inter to win. But hmmm u can never right off Barcelona. Well I keep my fingers crossed. My major concern tonight is referee, barca will throw everything to Inter, hence trying to win the referee decisions with their theatrical prowess. I foresee penalty(ies) against inter.

I NO FIT SHOUT,

barca has been my team since 1996

they are in my veins!!!!


right now, am restless

i can feel my heartbeat


imagine the prospect of another final.

[color=#000099][/color] nuffin 4 barca,it anoda great seasos 4 d internationz, nd am prayerful surportin dem,despite dat am MAN UTD 4 lyf

mourinho all the way ;d

i think it is gonna be a tough match today for barca but lets wait and see. inter seems good but anything can still happen

As an Arsenal Fan, I Saw barca going down today.

I pray that inter wins.

my take on the match is simple. barca would to want slow down the pace of the game so they can move the ball around and break fast with messi. mourinho got that in check, spot on, in the first leg. he will move 3 men forward right in front of guadiola's backline try and cut off barca's attack with his strong agile defenders and beat barca on the counter and it will be goodnight barca.