Inter Destroys Barca with with a spectacular performance
FC Barcelona's dream of defending their Champions League crown at Bernabeu is in great danger after they came a cropper against a very determined Inter side. Pedro gave Barca an undeserving lead in the 19th minute but Wesley Sneigder, Maico and Milito all scored to register a comfortabale victory for Inter. In the Preview to the match, - Barca vs Inter Preview I have pointed that Guardiola has to get his tactics spot on. But it was a night were he came a distant second to "The Special One". His team's attitude throughout the match was poor and once again he had two unused substitute in a crucial match like this. Many may argue that the long bs journey took by Barca as a big factor in this disppointing performance but for me that is a silly excuse. Most of the players were sloppy, losing possession on more occasion. Even the great Xavi, who had a better night compared to his team-mates was sloppy at times in possession. I did argue a case of the 4-2-3-1 formation, as I was sure that Ibrahimovic would start; but Guardiola went with the traditional 4-3-3 formation. Alves, Puyol, Pique and Maxwell formed the defense in front of Valdes. Keita, Xavi and Busquets the midfield and Messi, Ibra and Pedro formed the front trio.
Barca Struggle from the begining against Inter
Barca had plenty of possession at the start of the match, but Inter was looking as a more solid side. In the 10th minute Barca had their first scare when Milito was played in but was wrongly judged offside. In the 17th minute Eto tested Valdes with a great shot, Valdes made a mess of it and the rebound fell to Milito who shot wide of the far post. Inter was 
made to pay for that miss, when a sudden collapse of concentration resulted in Maxwell
getting the space to run into the box from left side, he then squared the ball to Pedro who made no mistake with the finish. In the 22nd minute Lucio had a great chance to equalise but headed wide from a great position. Then in the 29th minute Sneijder equalised for Inter; the move started with Eto'o driving the ball to Milito in the centre who oplaced the ball into Duthman's path. The rest of the half had nothing much of action. The Inter defense cut down all the attack by Barca, if they failed then Ibrahimovic did well for them.
Every Barca fan was expecting a solid show from their team in the second half. But from early on the indication were there that it is going to be a rocky day. In the 46th minute Milito send in a great ball from the right but was a bit too long for Pandev. In the 48th minute Maicon put Inter ahead from a move started by Inter grabbing the ball from Messi near their box. If first half was sloppy by Barca, they 
were bettering that in the second half. Then in the 53rd minute Messi tested Caesar with a great shot, but the goal keeper was upto it. In the 54th minute Busquets had a free header from a corner but headed close to the goal keeper. In the 61st minute Milito sealed the match and may be the semi-final for Inter with a header after Sneijder mistimed his header from a Eto'o cross. In the 77th minute Cambiasso produced a superb block when pedro was about to score after receiving a great ball from Xavi. In the 78th minute Júlio César pulled a great save to deny a Messi free kick. Barca was pressing hard in the end minutes knowing that another goal they will have the advantage. But that wasn't meant to be.
FC Barcelona has pretty much placed a foot off the Champions League bus with a performance like this. We may have an away goal but it may not count to anything. This Inter side has come off age after getting battered by Barca early in the group stage. Guardiola's inaction did cost Barca the match. It was clear in the first half that Ibrahimovic i simply filling up the number. But instead of taking him off and bring on Henry he continued with him. Alves, Keita and Busquets were the majority culprits giving away possession cheaply. The better players were Puyol, Pique and Xavi. Never understood why Guardiola didn't substitute the worst players with someone like Henry. Messi was kept quite by the Argentinian duo of Cambiasso and Zannetti. Eto'o has been excellent throughout the match and did remind Guardiola of his value. Sneijder was for me the man of the match. Barca now faces the mission impossible. They have to win by atleast two goals to stand a chance of qualifying. Looking at this moment it looks like a lost task but who knows.