Messi-less Barcelona beat Inter to take control of Group B
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Updated 24/10/2018 at 21:54 GMT
Champions League, Group B, Camp Nou - FC Barcelona 2 (Rafinha, 32) Internazionale 0
Jordi Alba of Barcelona celebrates after scoring his team's second goal with Arturo Vidal and Philippe Coutinho of Barcelona during the Group B match of the UEFA Champions League between FC Barcelona and FC Internazionale at Camp Nou on October 24, 2018 i
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Despite missing the injured Lionel Messi, Barcelona still dispensed a lesson to Inter, who had no answer to the quality of their passing and movement and could easily have lost by more. They now lead Group B with three wins from three games, with Inter three points behind them; in all likelihood, both teams will qualify.
It took Barca a while to settle, but the tireless running and prompting of Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho, added to the brilliant passing of Sergio Busquets and Arthur, always looked too much for Inter, and on 32 minutes, Suarez made the opening goal for Rafinha.
Thanks to some sketchy finishing and excellent goalkeeping, Barca did not make the game officially safe until seven minutes from time, when Jordi Alba crowned a fine move with a fine finish, but the reality is that Inter simply could find a way to trouble their hosts. Though Barca have been far from vintage in domestic football so far this season, they have been faultless in this competition - and it will take a serious side and serious effort to stop them regaining a competition they have not won since 2011.
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Barcelona's Spanish defender Jordi Alba (3L) celebrates with teammates after scoring during the UEFA Champions League group B match Barcelona against Inter Milan at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on October 24, 2018.
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TALKING POINT
What could inter have done differently? Like Manchester United against Juventus, Inter began the game simply waiting to lose. In a way this was understandable, as they could not afford to give Barcelona space, but they have good players of their own and could surely have found a formation to exploit that. Their hosts could not possibly have expected so easy a night.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Luis Suarez (Barcelona): A constant menace, his movement and aggression gave inter all kinds of trouble, and his brilliant pass created the opening goal.
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Barcelona's Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez reacts during the UEFA Champions League group B match Barcelona against Inter Milan at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on October 24, 2018
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PLAYER RATINGS:
Barcelona: Ter Stegen 6, Sergi Roberto 6, Pique 6, Lenglet 7, Jordi Alba 7, Busquetz 7, Arthur 8, Rakitic 6, Rafinha 6, Suarez 8, Coutinho 7. Subs: Semedo 6, Vidal 6.
Inter: Handanovic 8, D'Ambrosio 6, Skriniar 7, Miranda 6, Asamoah 5, Vecino 6, Brozovic 5, Valero 5, Candreva 5, Icardi 4, Perisic 4. Subs:Politano 6, Martinez 6, Keita 6.
KEY MOMENTS
18’ - The corner picks out Lenglet, who heads hard and down! But Handanovic does brilliantly with a block.
32’ - GOAL! Barcelona 1-0 Inter (Rafinha): An inspired selection! Rafinha breaks through a weak challenge from Vecino in centre-field, then finds Suarez down the right. And what a cross he delivers, more of a pass really, between keeper and defenders and right into the path of Rafinha, who cushions a punch home past Handanovic.
50’ - Great save Ter Stegen! Politano makes an immediate impression, curling in low from out on the right; no one wants to play it, and the keeper can't move until it's passed everyone, after which he dives to tip around the post. The corner comes to nothing.
51’ - Here's Politano again, finding Brozovic who drives over the bar! On the touchline, Spaletti does his absolute nut, but that was a hard chance.
58’ - Suarez pulls away to the right and looks to cross, earning Barcelona a corner ... which Skriniar heads away ... but Suarez picks it up on the left, moves away from goal, diddles Asamoah with a chop, and hammers a shot at the near post which Handanovic blocks behind.
61’ - Sergi Roberto picks the ball up outside the box and curls a cross at no one in particular, but Asamoah somehow heads it straight to Lenglet; he heads for goal, but again Handanovic is there to block.
71’ - And here come Barca on the counter, Artur setting them away with an overhead pass! The ball is then lifted to Suarez at the back post, and he should head back across but instead goes for goal, forcing Handanovic to palm away; it comes back, and Coutinho pops up on the right of the box, absolutely leathering a tricky bouncing ball against the bar!
83’ - GOAL! Barcelona 2-0 Inter (Jordi Alba) - Barca pass lots, Vidal turning nicely and playing a one-two with Alba who sets off, takes a lovely pass from Rakitic in his stride, and lifts the ball over Handonovic as he commits himself. That was beautiful and usual at the same time. Goodnight.
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Inter Milan's Argentinian forward Mauro Icardi reacts after the UEFA Champions League group B match Barcelona against Inter Milan at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on October 24, 2018.
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KEY STATS
- Barcelona are unbeaten in their last 14 Champions League home games against Italian sides (W11 D3), since a 1-2 loss vs Juventus in April 2003.
- Since the start of the 2016-17 Champions League campaign, Barcelona have kept nine clean sheets in 12 games and conceded just three goals at the Nou Camp in the competition.
- Barcelona defender Jordi Alba has been directly involved in four goals in the Champions League this season (1 goal, 3 assists); more goal involvements than any other defender in the competition in 2018-19.
- Rafinha is the 78th different player to score a Champions League goal for Barcelona - more unique goalscorers (excl. own-goals) than any other club in the competition.
- Barcelona’s Luis Suarez has either scored or assisted in each of his last four appearances at the Nou Camp in the Champions League (1 goal, 4 assists)
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