Barça stumbles against Inter and does not raise its head in Europe
Calhanoglu increases the alarmism of the azulgranas, third in the group and with no margin for error
BARCELONA, 4 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) –
FC Barcelona has lost this Tuesday against Inter Milan (1-0) on the third day of the Champions League group stage, a match in which Xavi’s men were unable to see the door against a rival that enlarged Barça alarmism in Europe.
They did not catch three essential points to establish themselves in second position. The second consecutive defeat in the continental competition that leaves Barça with no margin of error to fight for the next phase. In LaLiga leaders and in Europe between the ropes.
The Catalan team seemed to settle on the lawn of San Siro and locked up, for a few minutes, the Italians in their area. A comfortable situation for Inzaghi’s men, without the need for possession to do damage on the counterattack. Along with this, Calhanoglu did not take long to exhibit his powerful shot, but Ter Stegen ‘flew’ to put his hand in and apparently keep calm among his own.
First it was the German goalkeeper, and then the offside lines who saved them from a big scare. The VAR intervened to invalidate a possible penalty at the hands of Eric García, but, luckily for Xavi’s men, Lautaro was ahead. In the same way as Correa minutes later, with a goal disallowed by the linesman.
The duel opened between both teams and the locals sealed an impenetrable defensive wall for Lewandowski, completely unnoticed. The Barça insistence passed through the boots of Pedri and Dembélé, the only ones capable of finding depth in the face of the inaccuracies of Gavi, Raphinha and Marcos Alonso.
Inter’s firmness was rewarded and ended up hurting a deranged Barça at the end of the break. Calhanoglu repeated his formula from the edge and, this time, the Turk beat Ter Stegen low with a cross shot. An immense joy that allowed them to go to rest ahead of the score (1-0).
Already in the restart, the ‘blaugranas’ tried not to delay the comeback but their good initial reaction was deflated. Without shooting on goal, with ineffective arrivals, without aim. In the end, almost no arrivals in the Onana area. An impotence that would add to Christensen’s injury, replaced by Gerard Piqué.
The visitors’ discomfort continued to grow, even more so with Dzeko’s entrance. Dembélé revitalized the spirits and his overflow ran into the post. A positive reaction that Xavi tried to take advantage of with the entry of Alejandro Balde and Ansu Fati, who returned to Giuseppe Meazza, where he became the youngest scorer in the history of the ‘Champions’.
However, luck was not on the young attacker’s side three years later and the VAR annulled Pedri’s goal, which meant the tie, at the hands of Fati. Repeated attempts without effect that left Barça discouraged at the end of the match, who demanded a penalty – non-existent for the VAR – for a possible hand from Dumfries.
Thus, Xavi’s men will play it next week at the Spotify Camp Nou against the same rival, in a ‘final’ for the fight for second position and with no greater margin of error.
–RESULT: INTER MILAN, 1 – FC BARCELONA, 0 (1-0, at halftime).
INTER DE MILÁN: Onana; Skriniar, De Vrij (Acerbi, min 77), Bastoni; Darmian (Dumfries, min 77), Barella, Calhanoglu (Asllani, min 85), Mkhitaryan, Di Marco (Gosens, min 77); Correa (Dzeko, min 58) y Lautaro (x, min.x).
FC BARCELONA: Ter Stegen; Sergi Roberto, Eric Garcia, Christensen (Piqué, 56th min), Marcos Alonso (Bucket, 63rd min); Busquets, Gavi (Kessie, min 84), Pedri; Dembele, Rafinha (Ansu Fati, 64th minute) and Lewandowski
1-0, minute 45 2. Calhanoglu.
–REFEREE: Slavko Vincic (ESL). He admonished Calhanoglu (min.70), Lautaro (min.76), Inzahi (min.80), Bastoni (min.88) and Onana (90 6) by Inter Milan, and Busquets (min.60), Xavi (min.68), Gavi (min.76) at FC Barcelona.
– ESTADIO: Giuseppe Meazza.
