Bayern Munich and Inter Milan took important steps toward reaching the final of the competition, as Lyon missed an opportunity and the defending champion Barcelona was overpowered out of the beautiful game.
Internazionale Milano – Barcelona 3-1
Mourinho’s tactic for this match was a carbon copy of the game plan used against Chelsea in London. Same formation, same intensity and physical play. On this occasion Inter sustained a heavy blow relatively early from one of Maxwell’s dangerous incursions, but instead of playing passively this time the nerazzuri showed strength of character and fought back. Snejder’s equalizer was critical psychologically. From then on Inter’s confidence grew, while Barca was unable to string the magical touches together. Messi, largely anonymous through the first half, and Ibrahimovic, just back from injury, posed few concerns for Julio Cesar.
This was not the same Inter that was played off the field at group stage. Still, Barca looked strangely fallible. Xavi did find the space to shine and overall Barca’s offensive game lacked flavor. Maybe it was the effect of the long bus-ride to Italy. More likely it was Inter’s tight, intensive and physical display that defused Barca’s lethal attacks at construction stage. Inter players played like their life depended on the outcome, to Mourinho’s credit.
Barca came out for the second half asleep and it showed. Inter missed a chance just after the restart, but on the second chance Inter pounced on a beautiful counter developed by Pandev, cut back by Milito and finished by a surging Maicon. What a dilemma for Dunga, Brasil’s coach at the World Cup. How can he possibly leave either Dani Alves or Maicon out of the team? Maicon’s value keeps ascending into the stratosphere, while Dani Alves is simply super human and seems to be able to play two matches back to back at the highest level. Dunga should play one in front of the other on the right side of midfield.
Inter celebrated a stunning third goal, while Barca pleyers appealed for help.
To make matters worse, Barca’s talismanic captain Carles Puyol was unnecessarily booked and will miss the return. Pique was also booked, as were Keita and Busquets – this matters for a potential final. Barca pushed forward for the equalizer and Julio Cesar saved Busquets’ point blank header in a clear sign it was not Barca’s day. Stankovic replaced Pandev, the architect of Inter’s second goal, and soon after the Eto’o – Snejder – Milito triad combined again for a spectacular and slightly off-side goal that was nevertheless allowed. Ibra did nothing and was replaced on the hour with Abidal, instead of Bojan, a strange move from Guardiola. He moved Maxwell up into the midfield, with Keita still further up. The left side of Barca’s midfield seemed crowded. At this point Inter was playing with tremendous confidence and could have killed the game, but instead Inter took a step back, typically, content to defend 3-1 and break out.
Predictably, Barca finished the match pressing hard for the crucial second away goal. Pique moved up as a center forward and he came extremely, frustratingly close a couple of times. Messi, very little most of the match, woke up in the last ten minutes but he also was unable to find a path. And when Xavi hit Pedro again in stride like in Madrid, Walter Samuel saved the day for Inter with a providential block. In the end, Guardiola has a lot of work to prepare for the second leg. But for a club like Barcelona, 2-0 is far from mission impossible. Barca will be focused and ready for the return.
Inter’s captain Javier Zanetti – what a magnificent player, what consistency and versatility this man demonstrates every single time and always on big occasions. It would be silly for Maradona to leave him out of Argentina in South Africa. Thiago Motta, must be very pleased to have performed so well against his former club. Balotelli, enigmatic. He plays with incredible confidence at his age. At his best his performance reveals incredible power and ability. But at his worst his demeanor is too casual and worst of all, too often he seems upset about being there. He walked off the field angry while Inter players where celebrating a great victory.
Bayern Munich – Lyon 1-0
The French club missed a great opportunity in Munich to reach the Champions league final. Bayern, already without its midfield general van Bommel, lost one half of its remaining attacking catalysts when Ribery was shown a direct red for a crunching hit on Lisandro, possibly unintended, perhaps justifiably. Yet even a man up, Lyon never established control of the game and never generated enough possession or scoring chances to take home the ever-precious away goal.
In fact it was Bayern that pressed throughout the match, creating many opportunities but lacking clarity in the finishing aspect. After Toulalan’s red, Bayern was even freer to push and Mario Gomez wasted a golden chance. The only man on the field left that Lyon had to contain, the only catalyst left on the field for Bayern, once again came through. Arjen Robben engineered a precious goal for the Germans that might be just enough to get them to the final in Madrid. Even without Ribery, who will be suspended for the second leg, Bayern will have two of the three midfielders that have carried them this deep into the competition.
Fellow Dutchmen Mark van Bommel and Arjen Robben hope to lead Bayern Munich into the Champions League final.
For Lyon, obviously 1-0 is not insurmountable but their failure to score in Munich means that they cannot concede a goal at home. This will be very difficult. Along the journey Bayern have scored away plenty against Juventus, Fiorentina and Man United. The pressure will be on Lyon in the second leg.