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Champions League Preview: Barcelona - Inter
The reigning champions of Europe face a tough test against Inter on Tuesday evening.
Nov 23, 2009 10:05:43 AM
Kick Off: 20:45 CET - Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Camp Nou, Barcelona
Camp Nou, Barcelona
All To Play For
When the draw was made for the Champions League in August, few dared think that the two teams that meet in Camp Nou on Tuesday night would not be the ones to claim the top two places in Group F.
Barcelona were the champions of Europe and Spain, while Inter had just clinched their third consecutive Serie A title and both were expected to be in and around the latter stages of the continental competition.
Instead, the loser in the Catalan capital in midweek could find themselves facing a very tough task to qualify for the first knockout phase of the Champions League this term.
The Blaugrana have not consistently reproduced the form that saw them sweep to a unique treble last season and while the talk of crisis has been muted, some unconvincing results have left many wondering when they will turn the corner.
Defeat at Camp Nou by Rubin Kazan in the middle of October was seen as a blip, given that the visitors were pinned into their own half for the majority of the game and the outcome was blamed on Barca's inability to finish.
Against the same opposition Pep Guardiola's side were unable to score two weeks later and it was that second result that has left the kings of Europe teetering on the edge of an early exit.
League And Europe
Inter might be five points clear at the top of Serie A, but they too have not shone in Europe and are only out in front in the group by a point thanks to a late turnaround against Dynamo Kyiv in Ukraine in early November.
The draw in Italy against the same team a fortnight before came on the back of being held by Rubin in Kazan and a goalless draw with Barca at the Giuseppe Meazza and extended thr club's record in the competition to eight games without victory.
A ruthless streak has been missing from Jose Mourinho's team when playing in the Champions League that has been clearly in evidence when taking on domestic opponents every weekend.
With ten wins and one defeat from their opening 13 matches in Serie A, Inter are five points clear at the top and have scored the most goals, 32, and conceded the least, 11.
The teams are separated by just a point in the group and it will be the visitors to Barcelona that believe they are in the strongest position to progress because a draw in this encounter would make them favourites with a home game against Rubin to follow.
If Inter do win and Rubin beat Dynamo Kyiv then the cup holders will make a dramatic exit from the event, but the record books show that Barca have never lost two consecutive home games in Europe.
RECENT FORM
Barcelona
November 21 v Athletic Club (A) DREW 1-1 (La Liga)
November 10 v Cultural Leonesa (H) WON 5-0 (Copa del Rey)
November 07 v Real Mallorca (H) WON 4-2 (La Liga)
November 04 v Rubin Kazan (A) DREW 0-0 (Champions League)
October 31 v Osasuna (A) DREW 1-1 (La Liga)
Inter
November 21 v Bologna (A) WON 3-1 (Serie A)
November 08 v Roma (H) DREW 1-1 (Serie A)
November 04 v Dynamo Kyiv (A) WON 2-1 (Champions League)
November 01 v Livorno (A) WON 2-0 (Serie A)
October 29 v Palermo (H) WON 5-3 (Serie A)
TEAM NEWS
Barcelona
Lionel Messi has not been ruled out of the crunch clash, but remains doubtful after suffering a knock against Athletic Club at the weekend. Zlatan Ibrahimovic is set to return though having trained for two days without any problems. Yaya Toure and Eric Abidal are both omitted after picking up the H1N1 virus, while Rafa Marquez is also doubtful, despite being cleared of having the same bug and Dmytro Chygrynskiy is ineligible. According to early indications, Guardiola could play Busquets in midfield and push Iniesta up to leave Pedro on the bench.
Probable Starting XI: (4-3-3) Valdes; Alves, Puyol, Pique, Maxwell; Busquets, Keita, Xavi; Iniesta, Ibrahimovic, Henry.
Inter
The big news for the visitors is the return to action of former Real Madrid playmaker Wesley Sneijder, who suffered a thigh injury while on international duty with the Netherlands last week. Davide Santon is out with a knee injury, but otherwise Mourinho should have a virtually full squad to choose from for the encounter.
Probable Starting XI: (4-3-1-2) Cesar; Maicon, Lucio, Samuel, Chivu; Zanetti, Stankovic, Cambiasso; Sneijder; Eto'o, Milito.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Thierry Henry (Barcelona)
The Frenchman has endured a tough week after his handball antics for France and played for only the last seven minutes at the weekend. Barca will need him to be at his best if they are to break down a tough Inter defence without Messi, but it remains to be seen what mental state he will be in.
Samuel Eto'o (Inter)
An obvious choice, but he will so full of desire to show the Catalan club that they made a mistake in letting him go in the summer. The striker felt that he was pushed out of Camp Nou and will want to score, but has promised not to celebrate if he does out of respect for the fans.
PREDICTION
It could well be make or break time for the European champions as they run the very real risk of being eliminated on Tuesday night if they lose. Both teams will be keen not to taste defeat and that could well lead to another stalemate, to add top their first goalless meeting, only this time with a goal each.
Barcelona 1 - 1 Inter
Lucas Brown, Goal.com
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