UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE/Barcelona 2 Inter Milan 0:AS THE final whistle went last night, the nerves that had gripped Barcelona before this game seemed barely plausible. The holders were on the verge of not even progressing out the group. Instead, they top it having produced a display of control and quality that left Jose Mourinho's side looking utterly impotent. For all their domestic dominance, European excellence continues to elude Inter.
Barcelona lead Group F on eight points with a trip to Dynamo Kiev to come after a 2-0 victory secured with first-half goals from Gerard Pique and Pedro Rodriguez. Inter are second on six points and must at least draw with Rubin Kazan and hope that Kiev do not beat Barcelona on the final match day. Even if they progress, this display did not stir optimism.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Lionel Messi were left out of Barcelona’s starting XI, held in reserve in case the situation demanded risking their injuries later on. It didn’t.
Xavi Hernandez’ corner was headed on by Thierry Henry at the near post and Pique wriggled free of Thiago Motta’s grappling hands to leap and volley home.
The game was only 10 minutes old. It already felt like a deserved lead and the second didn’t take long to arrive. It came on 26 minutes and it was the perfect demonstration of Barcelona’s mastery of movement and space.
Xavi received the ball on the edge of Inter’s penalty area. With everyone expecting a shot or a nudged pass towards Henry, he instead sent it into space on the right-hand side.
Dani Alves reached it. The whole stadium could see Henry racing towards the near post into the middle of the six-yard box but Alves could see Pedro all alone beyond him. His cross went over the Frenchman to Pedro who, without letting the ball bounce, side-footed in.
Samuel Eto’o appealed for a penalty early in the second half under a challenge from Alves – a moment later the full back was at the other end delivering an inch-perfect cross for Xavi. Julio Cesar stretched to push it away.
He did the same again from an Alves free kick and, but for their frailty when Inter launched rare swift breaks, one of which led to Eto’o’s shot sailing harmlessly wide, Guardiola’s side continued to look extraordinarily comfortable as they cruised to the end.
Meanwhile, earlier last night Dynamo Kiev held Rubin Kazan to a 0-0 draw in a scrappy Champions League encounter, denting both teams’ hopes of progressing from Group F.
Russian champions Rubin and their Ukrainian opponents had few clear chances in a game played in difficult conditions with snow falling on the city 800 kilometres east of Moscow.
Rubin’s Argentine striker Alejandro Dominguez missed the best chance late in the first half when his overhead kick was saved by Dynamo goalkeeper Olexander Shovkovsky and Alexander Bukharov headed over the bar with a follow-up.
BARCELONA: Valdes, Dani Alves, Puyol, Pique, Abidal (Maxwell 89), Busquets, Xavi, Keita, Pedrito (Bojan 85), Iniesta (Jonathan 90), Henry. Subs Not Used: Pinto, Marquez, Ibrahimovic, Messi. Booked: Puyol, Pedrito.
INTER MILAN: Julio Cesar, Maicon, Lucio, Samuel, Chivu, Cambiasso (Muntari 46), Zanetti, Motta, Stankovic (Balotelli 71), Eto’o, Milito (Quaresma 82). Subs Not Used: Toldo, Cordoba, Vieira, Materazzi. Booked: Motta, Chivu, Zanetti.
Referee: Massimo Busacca (Switzerland).
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