UEFA Champions League 2018-19, Inter Milan 1-1 Barcelona: 5 Talking Points

Barcelona qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions League despite being held to a 1-1 draw by Inter Milan at the San Siro.

Barcelona largely dominated proceedings got what seemed like the winner in the 83rd minute when substitute and summer signing Malcom cut inside and hit an effort too powerful for Samir Handanovic.

However, Mauro Icardi, who was feeding off scraps all night, was able to settle himself in the box before slipping an effort through the legs of Marc-Andre ter Stegen to level the score in the 87th minute.

Here are five talking points from Tuesday’s match:

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#1 Coutinho becomes the creator in Messi’s absence

On a night where Lionel Messi was missing, Coutinho stepped up and showed his worth and created a number of glorious opportunities for both himself and his team-mates

It looked set to be the night of Lionel Messi’s return to the Barcelona lineup after missing the reverse fixture at home to Inter and LaLiga matches against Real Madrid and Rayo Vallecano, but it proved to be one match too soon for the Argentinian.

Therefore without their maestro who roams in attack, the pressure was heaped on the shoulders of the likes of Arthur, Ivan Rakitic, Phillipe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele to replace Messi’s magical passing and creativity.

The man who stepped up tonight was the Brazilian, Coutinho. At Liverpool, his position was a lot more central and often saw him perform better than he has done so far at Barca.

In Tuesday’s match, for the first time since joining Barcelona, he drifted a lot more inside rather than sticking to his position out on the left.

This allowed him to both create for his team-mates, and create scoring opportunities for himself. He was finding lots of pockets of space in between Inter’s lines of defence and attack, leaving their back four constantly frustrated when trying to stop him.

Finally in the 83rd minute, after lots of missed chances by Luis Suarez that the Brazilian created, he was to earn himself an assist when Malcom slotted the ball home.

Making a swift turn on the half-way line, Coutinho opened up the space for Barcelona on the counter-attack. He advanced with the ball a bit further, before playing the ball wide to Malcom, who eventually got the opening goal of the game.

On a night where Lionel Messi was missing, Coutinho stepped up and showed his worth and created a number of glorious opportunities for both himself and his team-mates.

#2 Barca’s dismal record in Italy continues

Icardi stops Barcelona from coming away with all three points

It really does seem to be their Achilles heel, as Barcelona once again failed to come away with a victory on their visit to Italy.

That now means they have been unable to come out on top in Italy in their last eight meetings with Serie A sides, an astonishingly poor record for a club as big as Barcelona.

Weirdly, in any other country, Barcelona have no problem winning games, even against top Premier League teams, but something about Italy they can’t get their head around.

It’s not like the chances weren’t there, there were plenty of them, it just had a feeling that Barcelona knew they could draw and qualify for the knockout stages, and failed to really pick up the pace all evening.

It was not like they didn’t deserve to win though, dominating all the statistics including, shots, passes, possession, etc. it just felt as though their record came back to haunt them once again as they were just unable to get over the line.

In the 83rd minute as Malcom scored his first goal for the club, it was all smiles and looked like Barca were cruising.

However, in a matter of minutes, Icardi’s equaliser changed the situation and meant they would go back to Spain without a win in Italy once again.

#3 Malcom scores on his Champions League debut

Malcom made an instant impact on the match

Since his arrival in Spain, Malcom has had a difficult time adjusting and getting playing time in the Barcelona side.

Some managers like to take time to bed players into their first 11, and it’s clear that Malcom he was purchased as a star for the future, however his playing time has been so minimal, questions begin to arise whether he would ever have a chance at Barcelona.

In LaLiga, the Brazilian has played just 25 minutes over two appearances. For some reason, Ernesto Valverde seems reluctant to use him off the bench.

And considering Rafinha has recently been used on the right because of Valverde’s doubts over Ousmane Dembele, it seems bizarre to think that he hasn’t at least given Malcom a start in LaLiga or the Champions League. His only start came in the Copa Del Rey against a side two divisions below.

However, on his Champions League debut, the winger proved what he was capable of, in a very short space of time.

Just 90 seconds after his arrival on the pitch, he received the ball from Coutinho, quickly cut inside and hit an effort too quick for Handanovic to react to, giving his side the lead.

Although they would eventually go on to draw, could this short cameo and goal finally give Valverde a reason to play Malcom more, especially given Dembele’s poor performance?

#4 Suarez is missing his shooting boots

Suarez would be looking to forget Tuesday night quickly

Since Messi was ruled out through injury, Luis Suarez has really stepped up to the plate.

Against Inter at home in Messi’s first game sidelined, the Uruguayan put in a magnificent performance in terms of holding the ball up and his link-up play. To add to that, he played a wonderful ball through to Rafinha for the opening goal.

Then, in the next match, the El Clasico, he put in the performance of a lifetime scoring a hat-trick as his team blew away Real Madrid 5-1. The old, goalscoring Suarez seemed to be back.

And it didn’t stop there, against Rayo Vallecano at the weekend he scored another brace, giving him five goals in three games since Messi was ruled out through injury.

But, despite that fine form, the Barcelona striker had a difficult time in front of goal on Tuesday.

As he so typically does, Suarez tried lots of different efforts, taking the ball down out of the air and trying to lob Handanovic from silly distances.

However, it wasn’t just those he was missing. There were lots of clear-cut chances for the forward and he was dragging them wide or failing to find the corners.

Fortunately for him, his team didn’t lose because of his missed chances, however, they certainly could have one if he was able to put even just one away.

#5 Icardi needs just one chance

Icardi slipped the ball under Lenglet and through

Icardi was having a torrid night against Gerard Pique and Clement Lenglet, just like he did at the Nou Camp.

The two defenders were allowing him no space, and with Barca simply dominating the possession and winning the ball back high up the pitch, he barely had a touch all evening.

But, as well all know with Icardi, he only needs one touch to score a goal.

The Argentinian has been in incredible form recently, especially domestically, scoring six in his last four games.

In all competitions he has nine in his last nine games, proving that he is most definitely one of the best strikers in the world right now.

But as mentioned, he was having no luck against the Barcelona defenders, who have proved to have formed a formidable partnership rather quickly.

However, with Icardi, he only needs one touch to score a goal, and he will always make you pay for your mistakes.

Four minutes after Malcom gave Barca the lead, Sergio Busquets’ weak clearance fell to Matias Vecino, whose effort then rebounded to Icardi.

The Argentinian took one touch to settle himself while faking to shoot to the defender in the process, before slotting the ball through Ter Stegen’s legs and past the Barcelona goalkeeper.

As I’ve said, he only needs one chance to score, don’t give it to him.