[UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE] Diego Milito stole the show from fellow Argentine LionelMessi, scoring once goal and setting up two more as Inter Milan stunned defending champion Barcelona, 3-1, in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semifinal series.
Neverhad Barcelona lost by more than one goal since Pep Guardiola took over as head coach in 2008 and it looked to be coasting at the San Siro after
But the Inter defense tightened and shut downMessi, who had four goals in his previous Champions League game against Arsenal, and Milito took over — but not before missing two open shots.
The 30-year-old Argentine found DutchmanWesley Sneijder wide open on the left side for the equalizer on the half-hour mark.
Three minutes after halftime, Milito fed Brazilian right backfor the go-ahead goal and put the game away himself with the third goal.
Barca defenders protested that Milito was offside before he headed the ball past goalie Victor Valdes, but Portuguese referee Olegario Benquerenca allowed the goal to stand.
After the game, Barca playmaker
Mourinho shot back at the postgame press conference that Barcelona players were sore losers.
“It’s always difficult to lose for those whoaren’t used to losing,” he said. “I’m like that too. It’s the characteristic of a team which always wins. I can never have a problem with Xavi because I adore him. He’s one ofbest in the world.”
Barcelona took two days to get to Milan by bus because of air travel restrictions caused by Icelandic volcano and often looked out of sorts. It had never alloweda goal in four previous meetings with Inter in the Champions League — two in the group stage of this season’s competition.
“I congratulate them,” said Guardiola, “but we’ll see them nextweek. We are in the semifinal of the Champions League against a great team, it can happen. We move forward.”
April 20 in Milan
Inter Milan — Julio Cesar, Maicon (Chivu74), Lucio, Samuel,Zanetti, Motta, Cambiasso, Pandev (Stankovic 56), Milito (Balotelli 75), Sneijder, Eto’o.
Barcelona — Valdes, Dani Alves, Pique,Puyol, Maxwell, Xavi, Busquets, Keita, Ibrahimovic (Abidal 62), Messi, Pedro.
Referee: Olegario Benquerenca (Portugal).
Att.: 83,000
Yesterday’s game reminds me of a quote from Teen Wolf, where the teacher/director of the play in which Michael J. Fox is auditioning says, “No wolf, no part.” Indeed, yesterday, it was “No Iniesta, no Barca.” It’s strange how you can take one player out of a team and it falls apart – think Xavi Alonso from Liverpool, Makalele from Real Madrid of old, etc. But Barca did have the lion’s share of possession, so perhaps their loss can just be explained by the Special One’s tactics and preparation of his squad. Few can argue against his genius after his revamped side totally outclassed Barca yesterday. The game in Barca should be equally intriuging.
Yesterday’s game reminds me of a quote from Teen Wolf, where the teacher/director of the play in which Michael J. Fox is auditioning says, “No wolf, no part.” Indeed, yesterday, it was “No Iniesta, no Barca.” It’s strange how you can take one player out of a team and it falls apart – think Xavi Alonso from Liverpool, Makalele from Real Madrid of old, etc. But Barca did have the lion’s share of possession, so perhaps their loss can just be explained by the Special One’s tactics and preparation of his squad. Few can argue against his genius after his revamped side totally outclassed Barca yesterday. The game in Barca should be equally intriuging.
Yesterday’s game reminds me of a quote from Teen Wolf, where the teacher/director of the play in which Michael J. Fox is auditioning says, “No wolf, no part.” Indeed, yesterday, it was “No Iniesta, no Barca.” It’s strange how you can take one player out of a team and it falls apart – think Xavi Alonso from Liverpool, Makalele from Real Madrid of old, etc. But Barca did have the lion’s share of possession, so perhaps their loss can just be explained by the Special One’s tactics and preparation of his squad. Few can argue against his genius after his revamped side totally outclassed Barca yesterday. The game in Barca should be equally intriuging.
Inter deserved the victory. They played a very disciplined and patient match. It was great not having Christopher Sullivan behind the mike suffocating the game.
Inter deserved the victory. They played a very disciplined and patient match. It was great not having Christopher Sullivan behind the mike suffocating the game.
Inter deserved the victory. They played a very disciplined and patient match. It was great not having Christopher Sullivan behind the mike suffocating the game.
The game was great. Inter handled Barca. Although even as an Inter fan, I feel the bus ride for Barca was an impact, and should also have to be taken by Inter in the second leg. Chris Sullivan is the worst! Thank goodness he didn’t. He has no business commentating the games. He feigns a Spanish accent at times trying to sound like a Latino. It is weird and he is a wannabe. Please take hi off all games. He is hated. Most people don’t even know who he is and wouldn’t want to hear anything he has to say. It’s like he is in a dream world by himself. He started several years ago calling himself Christopher instead of Chris, and started using spanish words and accent to maybe gain more respect? WEIRDO!
The game was great. Inter handled Barca. Although even as an Inter fan, I feel the bus ride for Barca was an impact, and should also have to be taken by Inter in the second leg. Chris Sullivan is the worst! Thank goodness he didn’t. He has no business commentating the games. He feigns a Spanish accent at times trying to sound like a Latino. It is weird and he is a wannabe. Please take hi off all games. He is hated. Most people don’t even know who he is and wouldn’t want to hear anything he has to say. It’s like he is in a dream world by himself. He started several years ago calling himself Christopher instead of Chris, and started using spanish words and accent to maybe gain more respect? WEIRDO!
The game was great. Inter handled Barca. Although even as an Inter fan, I feel the bus ride for Barca was an impact, and should also have to be taken by Inter in the second leg. Chris Sullivan is the worst! Thank goodness he didn’t. He has no business commentating the games. He feigns a Spanish accent at times trying to sound like a Latino. It is weird and he is a wannabe. Please take hi off all games. He is hated. Most people don’t even know who he is and wouldn’t want to hear anything he has to say. It’s like he is in a dream world by himself. He started several years ago calling himself Christopher instead of Chris, and started using spanish words and accent to maybe gain more respect? WEIRDO!