Tuesday 20 April 2010

Inter Milan hold a 3-1 lead over Barcelona following the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final.

0 nhận xét
Jose Mourinho's side will head to Catalunya for the return date thankful for goals from Wesley Sneijder, Maicon and Diego Milito, which helped to cancel out Pedro's opener at Giuseppe Meazza.

Barca, following their arduous journey to Italy by bus, showed no signs of sluggishness early on and saw Zlatan Ibrahimovic come within a whisker of getting a touch to a dangerous cross inside the opening 60 seconds.

The lively Milito was unable to pick out a team-mate as Inter threatened for the first time, while Seydou Keita fired well wide for the visitors as the game ebbed and flowed.

Samuel Eto'o was booked for kicking the ball away in frustration on 12 minutes, with the Cameroonian desperate to make his mark against former employers.

He came close to doing just that soon after, with his low drive parried by Victor Valdes but Milito was unable to force home the rebound.

The Argentine was made to pay for that miss on 19 minutes when Barca took the lead in the simplest of fashions.

Maxwell was afforded far too much time and space down the left and having ghosted in behind he was able to cut the ball back for Pedro to confidently slot home from 12 yards.
Response

Lucio then diverted a free header well wide as Inter looked to respond, but Barca were looking the more comfortable in possession.

The Spaniards were leaving space in behind, though, and Milito went close again as he looked to curl the ball into the far corner from a tight angle.

He finally made a telling contribution on the half-hour mark as he collected a scuffed cross from Eto'o and freed Sneijder in space, who stroked home past Valdes to level the scores.

Ibrahimovic failed to meet a Dani Alves cross as the half came to a close, while Sneijder saw a well-struck free-kick cannon off the wall at the other end.

Inter, roused by Mourinho at the interval, started the second half much the brighter and Goran Pandev was unfortunate not to meet a Milito cross and bundle into an empty net.

It did, however, take the hosts just three minutes to edge themselves in front, with Maicon bombing forward from full-back to take a low cross from Milito in his stride and poke into the bottom corner.

Worryingly for Barca, they then saw talismanic skipper Carles Puyol pick up a caution which rules him out of the second leg.

The Spaniards did their best to raise the tempo, though, and Julio Cesar was forced to produce two smart reaction saves to deny Lionel Messi and Sergi Busquets in the space of as many minutes.

Struggle

Barca continued to struggle at the back as the game ticked past the hour mark and it came as no real surprise when they conceded a third on 61 minutes.

Pep Guardiola's side looked anything but reigning European champions as Eto'o floated over a cross from the right and Sneijder was left all alone yet again inside the box.

The Dutchman got his header all wrong, but was able to divert the ball in the direction of Milito who grabbed a deserved goal by nodding home from close range.

Barca's frustrations were now mounting, as they were unable to find a way through and were seeing their considerable array of attacking talent nullified by a resolute Inter side.

Maicon was stretchered from the field with 19 minutes remaining, after colliding with Messi's shoulder, and could be a doubt heading forward as Mourinho's men attempt to secure a domestic and European double.

Barca, seemingly oblivious to the fact that playing a high line was doing them no favours, were fortunate to see a couple of debatable offside decisions come down in their favour.

They continued to press, though, and only a last-ditch challenge from Walter Samuel denied Pedro, while Julio Cesar had to be at full stretch to keep out a dipping free-kick from Messi.

Seven minutes from time Dani Alves was booked for going down under a challenge from Sneijder inside the box, but the Brazilian seemed to have been caught and was understandably disappointed not to have been awarded a penalty.

Barca continued to push as they desperately tried to find a way back into the contest, with Gerard Pique seeing a shot hacked clear from in front of his own line by Lucio, but they were unable to find a second away goal and now have it all to do at Camp Nou if they are to become the first club to successfully defend the Champions League crown.

Internazionale 3 - 1 Barcelona (live comment )

0 nhận xét

Internazionale 3 - 1 Barcelona



95'

It's unclear how much of an impact the coach journey had, too, but it may be the same story for Inter in the return leg next week.

95'

Inter certainly had the luck - Milito's goal may have been offside and Dani Alves may well feel he should have had a penalty - but Inter did enough to stop Barca dominating in their usual style.

95'

It's all over! Inter win the first leg 3-1 and take a significant advantage into the second leg!

93'

Keita concedes a free-kick, allowing Inter to waste some time.

92'

Balotelli unleashes a shot, but he can't find the target.

92'

Pedro tries an acrobatic effort, but it's straight at the keeper.

91'

Chivu hoofs clear as Messi tries to create something.

91'

Four minutes of stoppage time.

90'

Balotelli has the chance to feed Stankovic for a fourth, but it bobbles and he gets it all wrong.

89'

Dani Alves puts in a woeful cross. Goal kick.

89'

Pique goes down in the area as a cross comes in, but nothing's given.

88'

Sneijder heads Keita's cross back to Chivu, who kicks it clear.

88'

Inter are having to defend desperately at the moment.

86'

Inter clear the corner.

86'

Baltelli gets a header on the corner but Pique has a chance to fire in on goal before Inter eventually scramble it out for another corner!

86'

Barca win a corner.

84'

Sneijder goes clean through but his control lets him down!

83'

Dani Alves gets a booking for diving in the area! Sneijder made a mess of the challenge but it's not clear whether he actually made contact.

83'

Pique shows why he's a defender: he gets the ball in the area and runs the wrong way.

82'

Stankovic picks up a booking for a foul from behind and he too will miss the second leg.

81'

Sneijder puts the free-kick in but the referee spots an infringement. Barca free-kick.

81'

Zanetti wins a free-kick out on the right.

80'

Keita tries to catch Julio Cesar off-guard with a shot from distance, but it's a comfortable save.

79'

Pique receives the ball in the area but he's quickly surrounded and it's hoofed clear.

79'

Julio Cesar gets down to make a low save from Messi's free-kick.

78'

Thiago Motta fouls Xavi and Barca have the chance to fire in a free-kick on goal.

77'

Samuel makes a superb block to deny Pedro from just inside the area!

77'

Balotelli does some fancy flick-ups as he emerges from the right-back position. It comes to nothing ultimately though.

76'

Stankovic plays a half-volleyed pass through to Eto'o, but Valdes makes the clearance and he was adjudged to be offside anyway.

75'

Milito's cramp has forced him out of the game, so Balotelli will get his chance.

73'

Chivu's replaced Maicon. Chivu's wearing protective headgear himself.

73'

Chivu looks set to replace Maicon.

72'

The stretcher's on now. Doesn't look good for Maicon. Seems he banged his head when Abidal put his cross in.

71'

The ref pulls back play as Maicon is lying on his back. The medics are here to attend to him.

70'

Abidal hooks a cross into the centre but Inter clear and break away.

69'

There's a long ball over the top for Milito but Valdes gathers. Milito now appears to have a bit of cramp.

68'

Keita receives a booking for a trip on Eto'o as he threatens to break clear.

68'

Barca are having all the possession at the moment.

64'

Pedro sees a shot blocked. The ball goes out left and the cross just evades Keita.

62'

Abidal comes on for Ibra. That's an interesting move - Messi may move to centre forward now.

62'

Eto'o crosses in from the right, Sneijder heads down into the ground and it bounces up for Milito to head home. He looked to be offside, but it's given.

61'

Milito heads home from close range from Sneijder's misplaced header!

61'

GOAL FOR INTER!

60'

Ibra goes through one on one and forces a low save from Julio Cesar, but the play is pulled back for a Pique foul - and he's been booked.

59'

Milito makes some space and plays a ball into the centre, but it's cleared.

58'

The keeper punches the ball clear from the free-kick, but a foul is given as Ibra impeded him.

57'

Maicon hacks down Pedro out on the left flank. He's a booking away from a suspension.

56'

Pandev comes off for Stankovic. Pandev looked to be hobbling slightly there.

56'

Zanetti makes a fine challenge on Messi as he threatens to burst through.

55'

Great reaction from Barca to falling behind - Inter were completely on top before their second goal.

54'

Julio Cesar makes another good reaction save from Busquets' header and Inter eventually win a free-kick in the melee that follows.

54'

Ibra is played through but Maicon clears for a corner.

53'

Messi hits a swerving shot from the edge of the area and nearly catches the keeper out, but he does very well to turn it away.

51'

Puyol impedes Milito as he looks to latch onto a throughball. Puyol picks up a yellow card and misses the second leg.

50'

Inter have made a superb start to this second half and deserve to be ahead on the overall balance of play.

48'

Maicon turns the ball home from Milito's centre. The striker's cut-back from the right of the area left the defender with a little to do, but it's 2-1 Inter now.

48'

GOAL FOR INTER!

47'

Milito runs clean through on goal, but he's offside.

46'

Milito pulls the ball across the face of goal after some brilliant work from Sneijder, but Pandev's just behind it and can't make contact.

46'

Barca get the second half underway.

45'

Join us in the second half to see who comes out on top.

45'

That goal was down to an unusual lapse in concentration from some top-class players, Maicon in particular. Inter will feel they need to win tonight to go into the second leg with confidence.

45'

Inter have been the stronger team throughout much of the half, but it's 1-1 thanks to Pedro's away goal.

45'

It's half time.

45'

Busquets punches the ball in anger despite his team winning a free-kick and picks up the obligatory booking.

45'

Barca put together a long sequence of possession before Alves finds Messi but, again, Samuel stops him.

44'

Sneijder's corner is cleared by the first man, Xavi, at the near post.

43'

Sneijder blasts the free-kick at the wall but it takes a huge deflection. Corner.

42'

Valdes punches clear the corner and Keita gives away a free-kick for a 'push' on Maicon.

41'

Maicon plays a Hollywood pass for Pandev and it very nearly finds him. Alves nearly makes a mess of it, too, and Inter end up with a corner.

40'

Lecio again clears from Alves and Inter look to break. Milito is blocked off as he looks for Sneijder, however.

39'

Lucio makes the clearance as Xavi plays a killer pass to Alves and the Brazilian crosses into the centre.

39'

Barca have been enjoying some sustained possession but Inter look resolute in defence again. Messi eventually has to settle for a free-kick some way out.

36'

Ibra is penalised for a push on Lucio in the area.

36'

Eto'o nearly robs Puyol, but the defender recovers.

35'

Pedro gets a cross in from the left but Julio Cesar does well to steal it away from Ibra's boot.

34'

Pandev produces some great skill to get beyond Busquets and Alves on the left flank, but Alves recovers and makes the clearance.

32'

Valdes punches clear Sneijder's free-kick. Authoritative punch.

31'

Milito's chip into the box is cleared for a throw-in by Puyol. Inter then win a free-kick from Busquets out on the left.

30'

Sneijder fires home from Milito's pass. Maicon fed the Eto'o on the right flank, his scuffed cross arrived at Milito, and he was given enough space to find Sneijder.

29'

GOAL FOR INTER!

26'

Milito misses another good chance from the left of the goal! He's steered the ball past Valdes but again failed to hit the target. His form may see Balotelli introduced for the second half.

25'

Messi threatens some more magic, dancing around several players before Samuel eventually stops him.

23'

Zanetti holds off the threat of Pedro in the area. Another positive attack for Barca.

22'

Lucio misses a glorious chance! Sneijder's free-kick finds him unmarked at the far post, and his header goes wide. Awful effort.

21'

Alves brings down Sneijder as he looks to create something down the left. Inter will look to lob this in.

19'

Maicon, Lucio and Samuel were all unusually poor there, and that could cost Inter. They had been on top for a few minutes before the goal.

19'

Maxwell bursts down the left brilliantly, although the Inter defence was very, very sloppy, and cuts back for Pedro to place into the goal.

19'

GOAL FOR BARCA!

18'

That was a real chance for Inter.

17'

Eto'o forces a save from Valdes from distance and the keeper fails to deal with it. It bounces out to Milito to the left of goal, but his shot is wayward from a tight angle.

16'

Messi, incidentally, is dropping quite far back, but he's not being man-marked.

15'

Pandev's rolling around, trying to get Pedro booked. Doesn't look like he'll succeed.

14'

Lucio cuts out a Messi pass through to Ibra.

13'

Barca are looking rattled at the moment. This is what Inter need if they're going to take a positive result to Camp Nou.

12'

Eto'o robs Keita in a dangerous position and it's very harshly given as a foul. Eto'o gets a yellow for his protests.

11'

Alves is in a bit of pain from an earlier challenge. It appears his hand was trodden on.

10'

Eto'o plays a ball over the top for Milito. He would have been clean through but it's incorrectly given offside.

9'

Keita looks to flick a pass into Ibra's path, but it was never going to work out. Inter have been a little on the back foot, but Barca aren't having it all their own way.

6'

Messi weaves some magic around the area and goes down on the edge of the area under Cambiasso's challenge, but no free-kick is given. Quite rightly, I'd say.

6'

Pandev fires a long ball towards goal, but it's easy for Valdes to gather.

5'

Barca are penalised for a push.

4'

Lucio prevents Xavi's free-kick reaching Pedro, but it's deemed to go out of play for a corner.

4'

Pandev knocks Alves down and Barca have the chance to put the ball into the area.

3'

Cambiasso makes a good challenge and finds Milito in an advanced position. Milito gets a cross in but Keita clears.

2'

Maxwell swings in a cross from the left, but Ibra - attempting a fancy flick - fails to make contact. Poor stuff from the Swede.

1'

Samuel makes a strong challenge on Ibra to welcome him home.

1'

Inter Milan get the match underway!

0'

The players are now out on the field. Inter will be roared on by the fans here, with Barca's fans having had their travel plans scuppered. In the 80,074-capacity San Siro, Barca are believed to have only around 1,000 fans.

0'

The players are now in the tunnel.

0'

The volcanic ash that has prevented flights around Europe forced Barcelona to travel to the game by coach. It remains to be seen what effect that will have on Barca.

0'

Diego Milito's brother, Gabriel, incidentally will be among the substitutes for Barca. Gerard Pique and Carles Puyol start in central defence having served their suspensions in the second leg against Arsenal.

0'

Should Inter look to park the bus and shut down Xavi and Messi, Ibra could be their best hope of unlocking the defence and supplying an away goal. Pedro will also offer a threat.

0'

Zlatan Ibrahimovic returns to his former home and will hope to make the difference following the 0-0 draw between the sides at San Siro during the group stages.

0'

Samuel Eto'o will be the biggest goal threat and Mourinho will hope Diego Milito hits top form on the big occasion. Wesley Sneijder, of course, will be key in the Inter attack.

0'

Inter name the exact team that saw off Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. They'll be looking to stifle Barcelona tonight, even if Jose Mourinho has claimed he won't man-mark Leo Messi.

0'

No surprises in the line-ups for either side.

0'

Hello and welcome to the live commentary for the Champions League semi-final first leg between Inter Milan and Barcelona at San Siro.

watch live football: Internazionale v Barcelona Live

0 nhận xét

Internazionale  v  Barcelona


Match Information
Stadium: Giuseppe Meazza
Attendance:
Match Time: April 20, 2010, 19:45 UK 

Click here to watch Internazionale  v  Barcelona Live now
 

Popular Posts

Popular Posts this month

Popular Posts this week