Inter beaten 2 - 0 by Barcelona at Camp Nou

BARCELONA - Inter’s seven-game winning streak came to an end at Camp Nou on Wednesday, as Barcelona ran out 2-0 winners during their Matchday 3 encounter in Group B of the Champions League. Goals from Rafinha and Jordi Alba on either side of half-time settled it in Spain, however, the Nerazzurri are still in a good position following the earlier 2-2 draw between PSV Eindhoven and Tottenham Hotspur. Barcelona now lead the group on nine points, followed closely by Inter on six, with the other two teams on one.

The Nerazzurri started the game in positive fashion, with Icardi testing Pique early on as the defender made a good block in the eighth minute. Barcelona responded in the twelfth minute as Coutinho fired a right-footed curler just over the crossbar. Four minutes later, Icardi was involved once again, as he got on the end of a cross from Perisic to earn his side a corner from a Ter Stegen block. It was then Handanovic’s turn to make a save, as he reacted well with his feet to keep out a header from Lenglet.

The 27th minute saw a splendid back-heel from Suarez for Rafinha, however, the latter’s strike was comfortably saved. With Barcelona ramping up the pressure, they then broke the deadlock just five minutes later. A precise cross from Suarez found Rafinha in behind Skriniar, whose close-range volley found its way beyond former teammate Handanovic.

Inter were determined in their response, and in the 38th minute, Vecino unleashed a fierce volley that just dipped over Ter Stegen’s crossbar. Just before the interval, the home side threatened through a Coutinho free kick, however, a Miranda deflection fortunately missed the target.

After coming back out from the changing rooms, Spalletti brought Politano on for Candreva, with the substitute getting involved straight away. In the 50th minute, he played a deep cross that was curling towards the far corner before Ter Stegen palmed it behind with some difficulty. Two minutes later, he fired over after Icardi laid it off for him at the top of the box. It was a very open match at this point. In the 58th minute, Suarez showed great individual skill before his powerful right-foot strike was saved by Handanovic. In the 61st minute, Asamoah failed to clear with his head, inadvertently setting up Lenglet inside the box but Handanovic was there again to come to the rescue. With just under 30 minutes to go, it was time for Lautaro Martinez to enter the fray with El Toro replacing Borja Valero.

In the 71st minute, Barça almost doubled their lead with a perfect counterattack. Handanovic saved from Suarez’s header before the post denied the follow-up effort from Coutinho. In the 77th minute, Keita was brought on for Perisic. A minute later, the Senegalese got his head to a D’Ambrosio cross but without causing any real difficulty for Ter Stegen. Lautaro also had a try soon after, flicking an Asamoah cross towards goal with his left foot but he couldn’t keep it on target. Barcelona soon went on to score the second goal of the match with Rakitic providing a perfect assist for Jordi Alba who left Handanovic with no chance – his left-foot strike across goal rocketing into the corner. In the 89th minute, Lautaro couldn’t make the most of a good chance with men over as his weak shot was saved. After three minutes of stoppage time, the final whistle was blown by the referee and Barcelona won 2-0.

Now, it’s straight back to work ahead of the final match in October. On Monday 29th October, the Nerazzurri take on Lazio in Rome.

#ForzaInter!

BARCELONA- 2-0 INTER

Goals: 32' Rafinha (B), 83' Jordi Alba (B)

BARCELONA: 1 Ter Stegen; 20 Sergi Roberto, 3 Piquè, 15 Lenglet, 18 Jordi Alba; 4 Rakitic, 5 Busquets, 8 Arthur (77' 22 Vidal); 12 Rafinha (72' 2 Semedo), 9 Suarez, 7 Coutinho (88' 19 Munir)

Bench: 13 Cillessen, 11 Dembelè, 14 Malcom, 36 Chumi

Coach: Ernesto Valverde

INTER: 1 Handanovic; 33 D'Ambrosio, 37 Skriniar, 23 Miranda, 18 Asamoah; 8 Vecino, 77 Brozovic; 87 Candreva, 20 B. Valero (63' 10 Lautaro), 44 Perisic (77' 11 Keita); 9 Icardi

Bench: 27 Padelli, 2 Vrsaljko, 6 De Vrij, 13 Ranocchia, 16 Politano

Coach: Luciano Spalletti

Bookings: Suarez (B), Brozovic (I), Skriniar (I), Lautaro (I)

StoppageTime: 1' + 3'

Referee: Hategan

Assistants: Sovre, Gheorghe

AdditionalAssistantReferees: Petrescu, Coltescu

FourthOfficial: Ghinguleac