Reigning champions Barcelona's current campaign sputtered suddenly with their loss 1 - 3 loss to Inter Milan this week. The ever-vocal Jose Mourinho was part of the action once again, in the post-match press conference. iSporter Saurabh Datar analyses the match.
Zlatan returned to Guiseppe Meazza for the second time while Eto'o played against his former club. The game was set to be an exciting one and boy it was! After a couple of offside calls and bookings which went against Inter, Eto'o tested his former teammate Valdes with a curler but he tapped it away. But Barcelona was the first to strike.
Cambiasso was marking Messi, and seemed to have forgotten Maxwell and the former Inter man made his way to the goal line unchallenged and pulled the ball back in for Pedro to score at the 19-minute mark. But Inter were determined to score this time against Barcelona (not having done so the last 4 times). Milito diverted Eto'o's ball towards Sneijder and the Dutchman levelled the scores.
Second half saw Inter press further for the win. On the 48th minute, Milito was lurking around and Eto'o blocked out Puyol. Maicon got the pass and he volleyed coolly home, putting Mourinho's men in front. Barca responded almost immediately with Messi trying a long shot, and Sergio Busquets trying to head home. But Brazilian Julio Cesar was up for it both times.
The Barca defence somehow was not efficient enough and Thiaggo Motta (another former Barca man) fleshed out a ball to Eto'o on the flank. Eto'o crossed to Sneijder a bit late, and Milito directed the off-target shot by Sneijder past Valdes. Barcelona had conceded more that two for the first time in the season.
Ibrahimovic, who had a poor game, was brought off, and Abidal was on to strengthen the defence. And they pushed real hard for the crucial away goal. Pique was sent up front as a striker and he caused a lot of confusion among the Inter defence but couldn't provide the finish Barca needed.
Daniel Alves went down after being challenged by Sneijder and the replay showed it to be a case of penalty. But Alves was booked for diving, and the game ended at 3-1. Mourinho blasted Barcelona for trying to pressurise the referee and a war of words followed.
With a two-goal cushion, Inter certainly have a huge advantage as they go into Camp Nou next week. And the Barca defence HAS to buck up and stop Inter from scoring. Otherwise it's the death knell for this year's Champions' League campaign.
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