3️⃣ TALKING POINTS AS INTER OVERCOME BARCELONA

 INTER MILAN BEAT FC BARCELONA AT THE SAN SIRO

TALKING POINTS FROM INTER 1-0 BARCA

-Mitansh Kagalwala

Photo Via: en.as.com 


Inter Milan took on FC Barcelona in a crucial match in Group C at the San Siro on Tuesday night. Barcelona had most of the possession, but it was Inter who looked the more threatening on the counterattack, eventually taking the lead through a Hakan Calhanoglu stunner. Barcelona pressed forward after the break, equalizing through Pedri only for it to be ruled out for a handball against Ansu Fati, and having a penalty shout denied late in the game. Here’s what we made of it:

1.      VAR AGAIN: The complaints about VAR and its use in football just keep rising. VAR was at it again on Tuesday, controversially denying Barca an equalizer for a handball after Andre Onana seemingly punched the ball onto Ansu Fati’s hand. VAR returned as the game winded down, denying Barca a penalty after Denzel Dumfries handled in the box, with the referee not even going over to look at the replay on the pitch-side monitor. Barca are set to make an official complaint against the VAR referees to UEFA, and while nothing much will come from it, we completely see their point. A possible solution exists in adopting the rugby model, where VAR officials are on-mike, and must explain their decisions to the fans.

2.      MOUNTAIN TO CLIMB: With Bayern Munich in this sort of mood, the group was always going to be decided by the Barca-Inter matchups. After back-to-back losses, Barca now find themselves in a precarious position, just a game away from dropping out of the Champions League for a second season running. Following their summer spending, it is more crucial now than ever that Barca continue their UCL journey. The next game is the return leg against Inter, a must-win for Barca at the Camp Nou, and Barca must win it by a margin of two goals or more to keep a healthy chance of going through. Never an easy task against this disciplined Inter side.

3.      TACTICS: While most of the post-match spotlights will shine on the referee and VAR, one must not take away from Inter’s excellent performance. Simone Inzaghi got his tactics spot-on, setting up defensively to neuter Barca’s attacking threat, and playing on the counter to exploit Barca’s lack of speed at the back. Barca and Xavi, on the other hand, got it wrong, with several players failing to hit their stride. The play was too static as the team looked devoid of ideas and attacking spark, hoarding possession but not really creating much, and I cannot for the life of me figure out why Marcos Alonso is starting over Alejandro Balde and Jordi Alba. Changes needed, and needed fast, if Barca want to stay in Europe's premier competition. 


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