FC Barcelona came into tonight’s game knowing that a win would guarantee top of the group and a draw would guarantee qualification. The Catalan team started with their usual 4-3-3 formation without Lionel Messi due to his arm injury. Ter Stegen starts between the sticks. Sergi Roberto starts over Semedo again as the starting right back and Jordi Alba starts as left back. Gerard Pique and Clement Lenglet pair up to make the centre back duo.  Arthur, the young Brazilian, starts another important game alongside Sergio Busquets and Ivan Rakitic to complete the midfield. Ousmane Dembele, replacing Rafinha, the in-form Luis Suarez and previous Inter Milan player Coutinho start upfront for the Blaugrana.

While on the other side of the pitch the Inter Milan side starts with a 4-2-3-1. Handandovic between the sticks, Vrsjalko, and Asamoah as the full backs with De Vrij and Skriniar between them. Brozovic pairs with Vecino as the holding midfielders while Politano, Naingolan, and Perisic start as the attacking midfielders. Mauro Icardi is the lone striker for the black and blues.

Ernesto Valverde has instructed the Barca team to press high since the very first minute. This tactic has helped them dominate the first half as most of the chances were for the Blaugrana team. Arthur has controlled the midfield perfectly throughout the first half and was easily the best player on the pitch in the first half of football. The young Brazilian has composed the game beautifully with his magnificent technique on the ball.

The second half starts with no changes to both lineups. A few more chances for the Catalans including a disallowed goal from Luis Suarez have occurred early in the second half. In the 62nd minute, Borja Valero replaces Radja Naingolan to add more creativity for the Italian side. The first Barcelona change came in the 73rd when Arturo Vidal replaced Arthur. Inter Milan have been parking the bus in the second half as they’d be happy with a draw against the Spanish giants. In the 81st minute, both teams make a change as Candreva replaces Politano, while Malcom replaces Ousmane Dembele. After not getting selected for many squad lists Malcom finally gets his playtime. A minute later Coutinho passes the ball to Malcom, with his first few touches and his first shot scores his first goal for the Blaugrana’s. In tears, Malcom celebrated, showing how much this goal really meant to him. His determination to succeed at the Catalan team while the manager doubts him is fabulous. Malcom doesn’t play with his feet but with his heart. However, Barcelona didn’t enjoy their lead for long as a mistake from Sergio Busquets leads to an Icardi goal. The goal was orchestrated by the substitute Lautaro Martinez, the young Argentine crossed the ball in which has led to Busquet’s error.

A satisfying draw for both teams as Barcelona guarantees qualification to the knockout stages while Inter Milan sit in second place ahead of Tottenham Hotspurs. Inter Milan face the English team next Champions League fixture. A draw guarantees qualification to the Italian’s while Spurs need all three points. Will Inter make the next round? Or will Spurs pull a miracle?

 

Player Ratings:

Barcelona:

Ter Stegen 7

Sergi Roberto 7

Pique 9

Lenglet 9

Alba 7

Busquets 6

Arthur 8

Rakitic 7

Dembele 8

Suarez 7

Coutinho 7

Subs:

Malcom: 8

Vidal: 7

 

Inter Milan:

Handandovic 8

Vrsaljko 8

De Vrij 7

Skriniar 9

Asamoah 6

Vecino 5

Brozovic 7

Naingolan 6

Politano 6

Perisic 8

Icardi 9

Subs:

Valero 5

Candreva 6

Lautaro Martinez 8