What a difference three weeks make. Three weeks ago Inter were bottom of their group and in jeopardy of being knocked out of the Champions League. Barcelona were sitting pretty and expected to advance as group winners. Three weeks later and the whole scenario has changed.
Thanx to a couple of late goals against Dynamo Kiev and Barcelona stumbling again to Rubin Kazan, suddenly Inter are in control of the group and they could send Barcelona into the Europa League with a win at the Camp Nou combined with a Rubin win at home against Dynamo Kiev.
While Mourinho downplays the importance of this game saying:
“Three weeks ago there was the away match against Dynamo Kyiv, and for us that was the game of life. The game against Barcelona isn’t because we have two games to get three points.”
He has to know that a victory knocks one of the pre-season favorities out of the tournament. With Liverpool probably alos going out, the number of potential winners of the Champions league could be cut to five or six.
This is a great time for Inter to be playing Barcelona. Lionel Messi is a serious doubt to play after after suffering a knock against Athletic Club at the weekend. While Ibrahimovic is expected to play, Yaya Toure and Eric Abidal are both out after picking up the H1N1 virus, while Rafa Marquez is also doubtful.
The main injury doubt for Inter is Wesley Sneijder, who is expected to play. Davide Santon is out with a knee injury, but otherwise Mourinho has a full squad to choose from.
Teams
Barcelona
Probable Starting XI: (4-3-3) Valdes; Alves, Puyol, Pique, Maxwell; Busquets, Keita, Xavi; Iniesta, Ibrahimovic, Henry.
Inter
Probable Starting XI: (4-3-1-2) Cesar; Maicon, Lucio, Samuel, Chivu; Zanetti, Stankovic, Cambiasso; Sneijder; Eto’o, Milito.
Prediction
This is the kind of game that Inter hired Mourinho to win. He has a healthy team, and is playing a team, albeit the European Champions, who are missing several stars. Last week I would have been happy with a draw at the Nou Camp, but now I am expecting Inter to win.
Barcelona 1 – 2 Inter
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Barce w/o messi and ibra is toothless. Inter wil win.
from your mouth to god’s ears…. let’s kick the bastards out of CL xD
{ 1 trackback }