European Champions League

Barcelona 1 - Inter Milan 0

Barcelona: Víctor Valdés; Touré Yaya, Piqué, Gabi Milito (Maxwell 46'); Dani Alves, Xavi, Busquets (Jeffren 63'), Keita; Messi, Ibrahimovic (Bojan 63'), Pedro. 3-4-3.
Inter: Julio César; Maicon, Lucio, Samuel, Zanetti; Motta, Cambiasso, Sneijder (Muntari 66'), Chivu; Eto'o (Mariga 85'), Diego Milito (Córdoba 80'). 4-4-2.

Goals:
1-0. 84. Piqué. Picked up Xavi pass and turned past marker to score.

Barcelona will not be in this year's Champions League final! A 1-0 victory over Inter Milan was not enough to overturn the first leg result, and it will be José Mourinho's side who will play Bayern Munich in Real Madrid's Bernabeu stadium next month. The visitors defended fiercely throughout the ninety minutes, and although Motta was sent off for a foul on Busquets with only half an hour on the clock, Julio César was only beaten once by Piqué late on.

The game started with Pedro shooting wide, and Ibrahimovic having a penalty appeal turned down despite coming away with a torn shirt. Pedro volleyed another effort wide later in the first half and Julio César turned a shot from Messi away for a corner, but with eight or nine men constantly behind the ball it was difficult finding a way through.

Guardiola had surprised everyone lining up with a 3-4-3 formation, but he went back to his old style bringing on Maxwell for Gabi Milito at the break. Mourinho responded replacing Milito's brother and ex Barça striker Eto'o with more defenders, renouncing completely any pretext of attack, but as legs tired the gaps started to open up.

With eight minutes to go substitute Bojan came close to scoring when he headed Messi's cross wide, and two minutes later Xavi found Piqué for him to turn past his marker and fire a shot in to the net. The Nou Camp came alive again, and Julio César had to save from Xavi and Messi as Barça piled on the pressure looking for the goal that would take them through.

The game went in to injury time, and for a few seconds the crowd thought the miracle had happened when Bojan got the ball in the net, only for the play to be ruled out by what the referee considered to be a deliberate hand ball by Touré Yaya in the build up. A borderline decision, but one that left Barça out of their dream final in Madrid. Mourinho will be there though, taking Inter to their first final since 1972, and who is to say that the Bernabeu stadium will not be his home next season? If that happens, then this was only a prelude of what might be to come!