20:45 CET – Tuesday, November 24, 2009. Camp Nou, Barcelona

Fingers scraping against a chalkboard, a piercing scream as one is being tortured, the sounds of never ending bomb raids during a war. These sounds are among those that make a persons blood curdle, they send a shiver down ones spine and make one wish to be out of whatever situation they are in which contains one of the above.

“You know what you have to do.”

The above quote is valued as being equally awful against ones ears if not worse than the cringing sounds mentioned.
The sentence signifies panic. It shows a loss of control, a loss of direction. It shows one being at a point in which they are unable to control what they are doing and must merely follow their instincts and improvise on their every move. These words are those of a distraught instructor. Of whom is at their wits end attempting to restore current disarray. The only words that come to mind are ones of calling on those they are instructing’s instincts. In times of trouble, in times of uncertainty, these are the choice words used by football managers.

FC Barcelona have reached the plight of football. The European champions are on the brink of a premature exit from the illustrious UEFA Champions League. The team that was hyped up as outright favourites for the competition face a do or die clash tonight at the Camp Nou against Internazionale. A loss for the Blaugrana could well see the side that couldn’t stop breaking records last season in a position in which they are unable to control their own fate.

A horrific loss to Rubin Kazan at home followed by a lacklustre draw to the same opposition saw Barcelona move out of the top 2 spots in their group into a dreaded 3rd place.

The defeat at the Camp Nou was in the middle of a poor run of form by the Blaugrana, touted a “crisis” by the media, this link of dire fixtures saw the Catalans draw 4, lose once and win on a mere 2 occasions against less than competitive opposition.

The grey clouds continue to forever linger over Barca as a horror week inflicted injuries upon dynamic duo Lionel Messi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic as well as Yaya Toure and Eric Abidal succumbing to the dreaded Swine Flu. As Ibrahimovic appears on the mend the same cannot be said of his pint-sized partner in crime.

Team News

It appears that it is not all doom and gloom for the Catalunyans as much to the relief of the Camp Nou faithful Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola has announced Ibra and Messi in his 19 man squad, however whether or not they line up for Barca is another story completely. The Swede looks on track after he trained with his team mates and is expected to return to the fray against his former side. Guardiola may see the Inter game as more important that his sides colossal encounter with Real Madrid later this week and may opt to risk Messi in the starting lineup.
Abidal and Toure are both out whilst Mexican Rafael Marquez has been cleared after concerns were raised that he had also contracted swine flu, Iniesta may be pushed up the ground to allow Keita to line up in the left of the midfield with Thierry Henry a probable guess to start on the bench. Meanwhile Inter Milan manager Jose Mourinho has a full side to choose from as Wesley Sniejder has been cleared for the match and should line up on top of the Italian champions attacking duet of Diego Milito and former Barcelona champion Samuel Eto’o.

Predicted Starting XI, Barcelona: Valdes – Alves – Puyol – Pique – Maxwell – Xavi – Busquets – Keita – Pedro – Ibrahimovic – Iniesta

Predicted Starting XI, Inter Milan: Julio Cesar – Maicon – Lucio – Samuel – Chivu – Zanetti – Cambiasso – Stankovic – Sneijder – Milito – Eto’o

Key Players

Andres Iniesta

Dazzling of late, the humble Iniesta has been skipping past defences as if they weren’t there as last years Champions League hero has associated danger with his every touch, however, the Barcelona youth product is yet to score this season. His efforts against Bilbao were amongst his finest and should Messi not make it in time for tonight’s fixture expect Iniesta to be the go to man in every build up.

Esteban Cambiasso

The heart and soul of Inter Milan. Argentine Esteban Cambiasso will be the man responsible with attempting to oust Xavi and Iniesta, most notably the former. Should Cambiasso be successful in his mission to cut off the supply it would give Inter every chance at snatching the result they long for.

Prediction

The adrenaline will be pumping for the Blaugrana and each man who takes the field will be inspired by the 98,000 screaming fans. The absence of Messi will prove hard to deal with and should Ibra also miss out Barcelona may lack the final touch. If the Italian giants believe they can scare Barcelona by going out for an early result they will be in for a rude shock. After unsuccessful attempts at launching forward one would safely expect Inter to shut up shop and once again try to barricade Barcelona. Guardiola will be prepared for this situation should it arise and organization as well as choice tactics could well provide the result one of these teams is hoping for.

When hurled into the same cauldron these sides are a bad mixture with one possessing the best attack in Europe with the other having similar traits in the opposite compartment of defence. The apposing gifts appear to cancel each other out, however when one has nearly 100,000 people crying a team onwards, it is difficult not to have an advantage.
This match should be the most thrilling and heart stopping encounter thus far in the footballing calender. Hearts will be broken and individual battles fought as emotions run wild in this glamorous match up. On paper these sides are among the most evenly matched in the competition, but experience and durability are in favour of the current Champions, with said team my favourite to triumph in an extraordinary game.

Barcelona 2 – 1 Inter Milan

Leo10.