Inter-Barcellona 3-1! An Italian lesson?
@Nemonezonicamidecus (247)
Italy
April 20, 2010 3:53pm CST
Super match! This evening I've seen a gorgeous fight between two top teams of two top leagues, with a lesson of tactics and strategy given by the Calcio to the Liga. Mourinho and his players made it to stop Barca's tiki taka simply by pressing them, as done with Chelsea. Cambiasso, Samuel and Lucio could recover many balls in the midfield and Ibrahimovic couldn't kick a ball to the goalkeeper. It's very difficult to play and score against Italian teams and indeed Messi couldn't play his great soccer as usual. He never could go for a dribbling into Inter's defense. I wonder whether he is able to score so many goals in Italy. Probably he wouldn't reach the 20 goals. For sure the return match will not be easy in Camp Nou, but if Inter continues to play this way, it'll deserve the final. Poor Maicon... He lost two teeths.
2 people like this
5 responses
@drkraven (521)
• Romania
20 Apr 10
From a fan's point of view, any italian team can get away with this :) From my point of view, wich only watches international soccer, and only for the "show" in it, i would take a "curling" game any day before a "fight" between 2 italian soccer teams, or even 1 italian team vs another team who struggles for 90 min to get the ball through 12 people in the 11 m area ;) i included the referee here too :))
Sooner or later the italian football will have to learn that there is more to this game than winning, and all this soccer thing is a big big business and you have to perform in order to get paid big time :) Not that the top italian teams do not produce money, but i m pretty sure they could produce way more if things would change and game would be more open between all of them, even more people to the stadiums, higher tv ratings, more international fans etc. :) Just my toughts i m no expert on the subject:) Take care.
1 person likes this
@Nemonezonicamidecus (247)
• Italy
21 Apr 10
Italian teams aren't defensive as in the past. It's an old story that Spanish and English soccer journalists still continue to tell without reasons. Milan has often played with a 4-2-4 schema, while Roma, Genoa, Cagliari, Firentina, Inter and Palermo usually play with a 4-3-3 schema and score many goals each week-end. The fact is that soccer is a beautiful game that needs showtime and results. I'm confident that yesterday soccer fans and marketing agencies loved the game and appreciated the four goals scored and the money made. It's a pity when people believe that the defeat of Barca is all about referee's fault and not Inter's ability. By the way, I'm an AC Milan fan (and for us Inter is our closest rival), but as a soccer lover I really appreciated Inter's first leg. Cheers!
@abhishek111 (377)
• India
21 Apr 10
I totally agree with specially the way Inter played yesterday. I have never seen an Italian club to play this much attacking football in the near past. It seems that the Italians also have learnt this way of playing and it is good for football as well. But most importantly, the way they were able to neutralise Messi and Xavi duo, it was really awesome display of defense.
Again I feel that it is Mourinho's victory rather than Inter's victory....
1 person likes this
@akuler (3531)
• Malaysia
21 Apr 10
Hi Nemonezonicamidecus,
Last night result was a very good result for Inter Milan. No team has beaten Barcelona for two goals margin in this season Champion League but Inter Milan just do that. Inter Milan has one leg to the final now and this is a very good chance for them to qualify for the final for the first time after so many years.
Jose Mourinho, as usual, is the coach with always has a solution for any circumstances. He is the master of tactical strategies. And the way Inter Milan stop Lionel Messi from terrorize them is very effective but keep pressing the Barcelona to their own half. Lionel Messi is nowhere has a chance to score goal.
Barcelona might give a tiredness as a reason that contribute to the lost but Pep Guardiola just ignore it. After 14 hours of traveling that cover almost 1,000 kilometers, tiredness is something common and can be a good excuses. This journey has a part take effect on Barcelona game or performances. But a lost still a lost. Barcelona need to do their best in the return leg to counter the result and prepare their defensive wisely since Puyol would not available because he would be suspended after receiving a yellow card yesterday.
1 person likes this
@ram_cv (16513)
• India
21 Apr 10
Yes it was an Italian Lesson with a portuguese referee :). I had mentioned earlier in one discussion that anyone who can take Porto and win the Champions League can definitely do it with Inter. Jose Mourinho has done the number again. I think Eto'o had a great game especially at a crucial phase when after the first goal, Inter was a bit wobbly. Then three goals were great. They were lucky not to concede a penalty after sneider's challenge on Dani Alves.
It is a great result for Inter and it would make the return leg at Nou Camp very interesting.
Cheers!
Ram
@Matthammer (385)
•
23 Apr 10
He certainly is the special one isn't he.
I've seen some awful Inter games in the league this season and the destruction of Arsenal by Messi just swayed me into expecting a close game but ending in either a draw or Barca win. As it was Barca should have had a penalty for the Alves incident and the 3rd goal was way offside, which is impressive because these games have extra officials behind the goals.
I'm sure these are some of the things they will complain about, but it was amusing to see the whining about the travel problems and Mourinho's response that maybe he had a friend in the volcano and it was his fault.
However, not to take anything away from Inter, they were simply the better team. The build-up and execution were superb.
It's going to be a phenomenal 2nd leg and i can't wait..
@harabi (59)
•
23 Apr 10
It was a incredible match.This match of semi finals was absolutely interesting for seeing.I cant believe that inter(milano) played so good,i dont remember inter to play so good(nowadays).After the first pressure by Barcelona they have scored 1 goal and I think "Its starting"...but later I was shocked when I saw the playing of Inter.Cambiasso succesfully stoped Messi everytime when he try to play more free.....just It was great match of two of the best teams in the Europe :)
