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#9 FC Barcelona vs Inter Milan: October 25, 2018
Two teams with history between them. A rivalry created in a matter of four matches. A rivalry that stood out in 2010, with all the stars, Wesley Sneijder, Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta, Diego Milito and many others, representing both the sides. A pitch laden with 22 men who would lay everything they have got to proceed. FC Barcelona did defeat Inter in the group stages in 2009-10 Champions League but Jose Mourinho wrote a different script for the semi-finals.
With all the anger bursting inside Mourinho due to Barcelona’s rejection of his managerial offer, he decided to settle things on the pitch. And how? He humiliated Barcelona at Milan, locking down the defences but still the away goal tipped the tie towards Barcelona. Barcelona might have been favorites to go through but yet again the impregnable defence brought Barcelona’s downfall.
Sergio Busquets’ play-acting is infamous in that match and so is the sight of Jose Mourinho running unto the pitch to celebrate. It was as if he said, “I told you, now repent”. The Camp Nou was having none of it and the stadium workers opened the sprinklers on Jose. It is still confusing as to who had the last laugh.
But after that tie, Inter has been on the way down and Barcelona have won two more UCL titles. There is more to this match, the battle within the war as we might call it. Phillipe Coutinho was an Inter Milan youngster back in 2010 and now he is Barcelona’s trump card. Mauro Icardi is a little known product of the famed La Masia. And now Icardi is a lead striker for Inter. Barcelona have to face the beast that they themselves created.
Camp Nou has waited for long, for this rematch to arrive but Inter are in much better shape than they were two years back. Luciano Spalletti is a smart man, he knows his players and his football. Luis Suarez and Stefan De Vrij’s faceoff will be amazing and so will be the midfield battle of Perisic and Rakitic.
Worth every single minute.
