Barcelona VS Inter LIVE Match Score 05 Oct 2022
Level on points heading into the third matchday of Champions League Group C, European heavyweights Inter Milan and Barcelona clash at San Siro on Tuesday night. Both sides have seen off Viktoria Plzen but lost to Bayern Munich, but the hosts have endured their worst Serie A start for 11 years while their Catalan counterparts are unbeaten in seven La Liga games to date. Not for the first time this season, an Inter lead was overturned at the weekend, as Simone Inzaghi’s side let slip a one-goal advantage to lose 2-1 at home to Roma.
A first loss to the Giallorossi since 2017 leaves them stranded adrift of Serie A’s top six, and suffering four defeats in eight matches equals the Milan club’s slowest start to a season throughout their top-flight history. Again ponderous on the ball, Inter clearly missed the absent Marcelo Brozovic and Romelu Lukaku, but another setback means support for Inzaghi is slowly draining away among the Nerazzurri’s fanatical fanbase. One of five victories this term came last time out in the Champions League, as they got off the mark in a competitive Group C by beating Czech champions Viktoria Plzen 2-0, with Edin Dzeko and Denzel Dumfries scoring either side of their hosts going down to 10 men.
Previously, they had lost by the same scoreline at home to Bayern, but they have tended to fare much better at San Siro in recent times: before their setback against Roma, they had won each of their last seven home games in the league – keeping four clean sheets in the process. As Inter have won only once from five meetings with Barcelona in Milan, though, they will need to overcome precedent to pick up maximum points this week. There is every chance Bayern will sprint into the distance by sweeping past Plzen, so back-to-back matches against the Blaugrana could be decisive.
Having failed to make it through the group stage of last season’s Champions League, finishing third behind Bayern and Benfica, a rejuvenated Barcelona will not want to suffer the same fate again. It is now seven years since they last lifted the continent’s top trophy, but recent events suggest Xavi’s current crop could be among the contenders to prevail in Istanbul next June. Thanks to some slick accounting manoeuvres, the Catalan giants were able to add a number of players to their squad over the summer, including star striker Robert Lewandowski, who scored again on Saturday – his ninth goal of the season proving the difference versus Mallorca.
Barcelona are therefore battling it out with old rivals Real Madrid at the top of La Liga, and have now won six successive league matches since drawing on the opening day. Before the international break, though, they succumbed to Bayern, with former Allianz Arena hero Lewandowski left ruing several missed chances against his erstwhile employers. That 2-0 loss in Bavaria represented Barca’s fifth defeat in their last nine group-stage games.
Nonetheless, with six points on offer across both fixtures between the Blaugrana and Inter over the coming days, there is all to play for – and the contrast in confidence between both camps could prove a major factor.
After a hard-fought win away to Mallorca to extend their winning streak in La Liga, Barcelona travel to Italy for a massive Champions League group stage match against Inter Milan at San Siro on Tuesday night.
This crazy month of October will go a long way in deciding Barça’s European fate, and their chances of qualifying for the Round of 16 will be largely dictated by the two straight meetings with Inter in the next 9 days. Four or six points will pretty much guarantee a spot in the knockouts, but even one loss could prove to be really costly for Xavi Hernández and his troops.
Inter are going through a serious crisis and manager Simone Inzaghi is under immense pressure, but he could save his job if he pulls off the upset against the Blaugrana in this one. Here’s how we think Barça could line up on Tuesday evening.
Barça’s defense kept a clean sheet for the sixth time in seven La Liga games and Marc-André ter Stegen is enjoying his best run of form between the sticks, but the Barça backline will be severly tested by Inter’s attack, especially through the air where the Nerazzurri thrive and get many of their goals in big games.
Ronald Araujo and Jules Kounde are still missing for this one, and there’s no clear answer at right-back if Sergi Roberto isn’t able to start. The Catalan should be able to go from the beginning in this one, however, and it seems as though he only played 10 minutes against Mallorca to be saved for Tuesday. As good as Alejandro Balde was as a makeshift right-back, he’s still left-footed and compromised playing out of position so starting Roberto is the correct choice if possible.
Balde should keep his place on the left, though, as he continues to separate himself as the best left-back in the squad right now. Marcos Alonso was OK against Bayern Munich and might once again be picked by Xavi for his experience, but Balde is playing really well and deserves to start a big game at this point.
As for the middle of the defense Gerard Piqué and Andreas Christensen might be chosen once again due to their height against a very good Inter set piece attack, but Eric García is also an option and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him start this one either.
There is optimism Frenkie De Jong could make his return from injury for this one, but it’s hard to expect the Dutchman to have any chance of starting as he recovers from a hamstring injury. Franck Kessie seems to be the pick for games against weaker sides as was the case against Mallorca, but the Ivorian hasn’t done a lot to earn a spot in the really big matches yet.
Against Inter it will be Sergio Busquets as the captain alongside Gavi and Pedri, who was rested against Mallorca and should be fresh to face a very tough battle against the Inter midfield and especially the ultra-talented Nicolò Barella. Their duel will be fun, and could prove crucial to the outcome of this one.
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