No one ever called José Mourinho a predictable tactician, but many assumed the Inter Milan boss would turn the first leg of the Champions League semifinal into a defensive master class.
Not so. Inter's play—especially in the second period—was far from cagey as they eased past Barcelona for a 3-1 first-leg advantage behind two second-half goals.
Though some lazy defending gifted both teams first-half goals, the ease in which Barcelona unlocked Inter's defense for the game's opener in the 19th minute was startling.
Barcelona fullback Maxwell took off down the left side unchallenged by the Inter defense—and even saw Inter defender Maicon completely back off—before launching a pass from the endline to Pedro, who coolly finished from a yard behind the penalty spot.
Inter weren't without their chances and could have had three goals before halftime, but Diego Milito dragged two efforts wide and Lúcio missed a close-range header from Wesley Sneijder's free kick.
But Inter tied things up in the 30th minute thanks to more sloppy defending—this time from the visitors—when Milito gathered the ball just inside the box, immediately drawing three defenders. Taking advantage of the extra space on the left was Sneijder, who collected Milito's pass and buried his shot.
Inter were rampant in the second half, and Maicon would atone from his earlier gaffe by tallying the go-ahead score after Lionel Messi had coughed up possession in midfield.
Sneijder took the gift and ran toward the Barça goal before finding Milito on the right. The Argentine squared his pass to Maicon, whose touch easily beat VÃctor Valdés.
Minutes later, Inter stretched the advantage, again springing a counterattack to get behind the Barça defense. Samuel Eto'o looped in a pass from the right, and after Sneijder tossed his header across goal—perhaps a botched attempt on frame—Milito was positioned perfectly to head home Inter's third.
At the other end, Inter 'keeper Júlio César made some key saves from Messi and Sergio Busquets, while Esteban Cambiasso blocked Pedro's effort. Barcelona also had a penalty shout when Sneijder felled Dani Alves, but the referee judged that the Barcelona defender had dived, and the score line stood.
Barcelona host the second leg at the Camp Nou on April 28. The other semifinal kicks off Wednesday when Bayern Munich host Lyon in their first leg.
