2009/10 UEFA Champions League

You've got to think that Inter-Barca is basicasly the final. Whoever wins that tie wins the CL in my opinion.

A massive slice of luck for Inter tonight I suppose but let me say one thing:

Maybe only Barcelona in the whole of Europe can challenge for honours in all competitions. Inter have one foot in the CL final, are still well in the Serie A hunt and are already in the Coppa Italia final.

Calcio is closing in on regaining some pride but surely Mourinho's boys are already one of the best teams on the continent? Perhaps the most consistent central defensive pairing in Europe this season, arguably the world's best goalkeeper and right back, in my opinion, the best natural trequartista in the world and two of the most natural finishers the game has ever seen.

People talk of Barca's finesse and the sheer quality of the English sides. Inter are a match and kudos to them for being so.

Inter were better tonight, but the last 15 min. Barca showed that they still are top of the world.

That referee was a gift for Inter tonight.

I'm happy and sad about the Inter - Barcelona result.

Sad because I'm a Barca fan, since I was 8 or so as they were the side I most enjoyed watching back then and they also got me following club football, and I want them to do well obviously. Sad because they did not deserve to lose by 2 goals. Milito's was possibly offside. Barca had numerous good chances towards the end especially which if it hadn't been for Julio Cesar, Lucio or Samuel, then they surely would have nicked a goal.

Also the referring. How was Sneijder's challenge on Dani Alves in the penalty box not a penalty!? I know Alves has a reputation for diving and milking it but Sneijder literally wrapped his legs around him and brought him down. Yet, Alves got a yellow for 'simulation'. Not to mention the yellow cards the ref gave out. Pique's and Stankovic's were silly cards compared to some other tackles which went unpunished.

Happy that Barca showed they can turn it around in the second leg. Inter played well but were fortunate to an extent that their physical, aggressive and counter attacking style got them a good result. Sadly Puyol will be out of the return leg, as will Stankovic.

Also happy to see Inter finally proving they can do it in Europe. I like them - and prefer them to any other top Italian side. They have always had the squad but never managed to accomplish that much with it. Good for them and Italian football IMO.

But the thing which really pisses me off and frustrates me is that they can play effective and smart football to beat Barcelona, who are undoubtedly the best club side in the world for probably 2 seasons now, yet in the league they couldn't give a sh*t. I mean against Catania a few weeks ago they were playing like a 2nd division side, who at the time were leading Serie A, and couldn't care less whether they won or not. They lacked urgency and effort, had no tactical approach. As a result of their lack of interest in the Italian league they have basically started to hand the title over to the worst side the universe has ever seen play the sport of football, merda.

It will be an interesting 2nd leg next week. Hope its a good one and hope to see Barcelona overturn the tie, but if they don't, I won't exactly cry over it.

This is good for Italian football. I just really hope Inter re-focus on the league again because it would be an insult and disgrace to see those baboon clowns on the other side of Rome undeservedly and luckily come away with it.

I hope inter can ride on the high, beat atalanta in the "derby" this weekend.

Other than that, I think Mou showed, again, that he has the brains for football. He literally raped Barca during long parts of the game, with the attackers being ready to threaten the weakest parts of Barca over and over again (who are still the best in the world, no doubt). The ref was with Inter tonight, but with that massive support from the stands all refs would have a hard time being objective. Also, they did outrule Milito in the first half on an offside that wasnt an offside, and hat was probably discussed during the break, meaning that another offside ruling that was tough would have been hard to make (even though the goal was clearly an offside, and not a close call).

i am hoping for Inter in the finals, and that they win over BM, so Calcio gets back the recognition...

And such an assett Pandev is to the team. Unbelievable.

Inter played fantastic game and they did deserve to lead 3-1.... Yes, there was an offside position for the 3th goal but also at the start of the game the linesman got it wrong cos Eto'o was not in offside for what it would have been a clear chance one on one... And lets not forget KARMA.... Barca last year.... They took our tittle away... Facing Chelsea in the final last season would have been easier :) And Congrats to Pandev... He had a fantastic game after some dig in form that he had in the last few games.... Also congrats to Pandev for becoming a father... He become a father to a boy called Filipo... I still dont get it why he gave his son italian name when macedonian version of that name is Filip :)

Inter did play a good game no doubt. That 3rd goal was an obvious offside no comment on that. But the yellow for Puyol was too much. Firstly there was no faul - he just pressed Milito with body - didn't hold him didn't do anything outside the rules. Messi was a hole last night. So as Sergio. Don't know why Guardiola didn't close the game with Toure when they lead 1:0. Pandev - nothing much - made a couple of runs on the left but Alves had him covered.

Pandev is doing a stellar job and I can't take that away from him. However, the trumpet blowing for him is needless enough; he is 4th choice striker, behind Balotelli who has become public enemy #1 and he only plays on the wing because Mancini and Quaresma were the two biggest flops in recent transfer history.

He would have had a lot to prove had he stayed with us and I cannot see how he is suddenly this world class player. He is merely filling a bloody big hole at Inter.

NITRO wrote:

Inter played fantastic game and they did deserve to lead 3-1.... Yes, there was an offside position for the 3th goal but also at the start of the game the linesman got it wrong cos Eto'o was not in offside for what it would have been a clear chance one on one... And lets not forget KARMA.... Barca last year.... They took our tittle away... Facing Chelsea in the final last season would have been easier :) And Congrats to Pandev... He had a fantastic game after some dig in form that he had in the last few games.... Also congrats to Pandev for becoming a father... He become a father to a boy called Filipo... I still dont get it why he gave his son italian name when macedonian version of that name is Filip :)

Hahahaha how did they take United's title away!!?? United were lucky to win it the year before. Chelsea played better in the final and had Terry not missed that crucial penalty at the end, they would have won it.

Barcelona were the best side last season. They owned United in that final (apart from the first few minutes of the match) even though they were missing some key players (and had Yaya Toure play as central defender), so fully deserved their title. Against Chelsea they had some dubious calls go their way but most of those penalty appeals I actually thought were correct, bar one of them.



On another note..... that conspiracy that Barcelona get help from the referees is complete bulls*t. Ovrebo is just a bad ref, he's fucked up in so many other games as well.

The ref in the Arsenal - Barca tie weeks ago wrongfully red carded Puyol following that incident in the penalty box. Fabregas got his foot caught in Puyol while trying to shoot and fell, yet they got a penalty and the Barcelona captain was ejected. A really harsh decision.

You can't say other big sides haven't had favourable decisions go their way in recent times. Madrid, United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Milan, Inter, Juventus, etc. all get it in Europe and their respective domestic leagues as well.

Bobby.... I did not said that Barcelona was not better in the final... They kicked our asses.... In every area of the field.... You misunderstanded me.... I said that if Chelsea has gone to the final I do believe that United would have beat them again cos... Cos we did it twice last season so why not again... Yes... We were second best in the final but we were second best team in the world at that point...

Caxi.. If Pandev is 4th choice striker how come he started the games against Milan, Chelsea, Barcelona.... The most important matches in Inter.... Pandev has played more games then any Lazio player from the moment he left lazio till now

NITRO wrote:

Caxi.. If Pandev is 4th choice striker how come he started the games against Milan, Chelsea, Barcelona.... The most important matches in Inter.... Pandev has played more games then any Lazio player from the moment he left lazio till now

i dont think there are first, 2nd, 3rd and 4th strikers at inter... Each of them has speciality.. to decide which one has to play is depending on Mourinho's tactics..

Milito is a little bit in front right now... but the others follow not far from him..

NITRO wrote:

Bobby.... I did not said that Barcelona was not better in the final... They kicked our asses.... In every area of the field.... You misunderstanded me.... I said that if Chelsea has gone to the final I do believe that United would have beat them again cos... Cos we did it twice last season so why not again... Yes... We were second best in the final but we were second best team in the world at that point...

My apologies, sorry Nitro, I misunderstood you.


As for the other semi final it wasn't the most exciting but Bayern have gained the upper hand in that one. They should be favourites to progress now as 1 goal in France will surely take them to the final.

The 2 players red carded are key men for each side but I think Lyon will suffer more by losing Toulalan, than Bayern without Ribery (as they have options like Altintop who can do a similar job). That may seem odd to most but Toulalan IMO is very under rated. A French NT regular and regularly linked to English and Italian sides, this guy is an effective defensive player breaking up opponents attacks well, and has good distribution skills.

Was weird seeing him start as a central defender next to Cris today, and he will be sorely missed by Lyon next week.

No comments on BMs game against Lyon yesterday? hmmm.....

Has anyone got any details about how it looks for next year and CL spots for Italy vs CL spots for the German league? I remember this was debated somewhere, just cant remember where...
The German teams have a better record than the Italian teams this year, but enough to snatch that 4th spot?

Only comment I have on last night's game is that Lyon didn't turn up, were decidedly average and Bayern's stars did the damage and survived the game without being tested. Ivica Olic, for a good 6-8 years now has been an underrated gem and it's great to see him firmly in the spotlight.

As for the co-efficient debate, I'd love to know too...but I have no idea.

Found on another forum.

Currently Germany is ahead of Italy.

3/6 = 0,5.

Germany 64.207

Italy 63.910

Tyskland: +0,297

Inter has to reach the final today if Italy wants to get 4 teams next year. If Hamburg reach the final (draw) Inter has to win today and the final. If Hamburg wins against Fulham and reach the final there is nothing Inter can do even if they win against Barca and Bayern.

Anything and everthing on the coefficient can be found here

http://www.xs4all.nl/~kassiesa/bert/uefa/data/method4/crank2010.html

Not good for Serie A. Even if Italy clawed back third this year, they would start next season about 5,000 points behind the Bundesliga anyhow and therefore would have to have an excellent European season, and hope that the Bundesliga has a bad one as below. Serie A has four places for next seasons CL but as things stand next season only three would be on offer in the league for the 2011/2012 CL.

http://www.xs4all.nl/~kassiesa/bert/uefa/data/method4/crank2011.html

LofL wrote:

Found on another forum.

Currently Germany is ahead of Italy.

3/6 = 0,5.

Germany 64.207

Italy 63.910

Tyskland: +0,297

Inter has to reach the final today if Italy wants to get 4 teams next year. If Hamburg reach the final (draw) Inter has to win today and the final. If Hamburg wins against Fulham and reach the final there is nothing Inter can do even if they win against Barca and Bayern.

Expect Fulham to win tomorrow. Hamburg are in poor run of form and they fired the coach this weekend. Fulham will not disappoint at Craven Cottage - remember what they did to Juve.

Inter needs to go to the final for a number of reasons. And since no-one expected Bayern to go this far or for Juve and Milan to drop out so early next season's european games can not possibly go the same way like this year. It will be very interesting to see what the likes of Palermo and Sampdoria can do in Europe next year.

I'm losing track of all the teams I should be supporting all around Europe to have my own agenda fulfilled.

Cris got sent off for the same thing as Ledesma - that was funny. but I have to say Lyon were very poor last night.

as for tonight: VAMOS BARCA!

Yeeeeeeeeeeeees!

Dai, Inter! Dai, Interisti !!!!!

Inter doesn't deserve to be at the final with that type of playing. no doubt they play very good tactically but still i don't think they should go thru. as for the second goal I think it was regular cause the ball hit toure in the stomach. and what a finish from Pique!

What a joke that inter gets through... playing with 9 men defense and destroying Good football. May firmani get on the pitch and break on of those wankers legs. And mourinho, dont get me startet on him, running over to the barca fans and mock them. Screw inter what a joke to have them in chl final

Inter don't had to score, so I think it's normal that they played like this. In the end, only the result counts, so Mourinho is right. At Giuseppe Meazza they played very well, so for me they deserve this. And, to be honest, Barcelona didn't play good as well, not tonight & not in Milano. Ok, it was not with beautiful football, but Mourinho plays the final and he stopped the best team in the world, so.

And it's so nice for the Interisti. I, and no one of us I think, will never forget what they did for Gabriele, a true friendship between 2 tifosi-groups.

CaptainLazio wrote:

What a joke that inter gets through... playing with 9 men defense and destroying Good football. May firmani get on the pitch and break on of those wankers legs. And mourinho, dont get me startet on him, running over to the barca fans and mock them. Screw inter what a joke to have them in chl final

How did you expect them to play after getting an embarrassing red card early in the game? Attacking football? No, every coach in the world would've done the same as Mourinho, trying to defend the advantage they had.

And about Mourinho's run, I think it was the Inter supporters he ran to.

Where are those dumbasses who said Mouriinho is just a joke as a coach.....man i respect that guy.....He has but together on great family indeed. I still bet he doesent give a smelling as about Inter....but atleast if he wins tropys i dont give a smelling as about that loyality for the club and stuff. Same goes also for the players and managers....They pretty much all play for the money.
Grande Inter!!!