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Barcelona on the brink

Author: Sir David Smith
Date: 28/04/2010
Football betting

The curse of the Champions League holders looks set to strike again on Wednesday night with reigning European champions Barcelona on the brink of bowing out of this year's competition.

By common consensus, Barca are the best team remaining in this year's semi-finals yet they trail 3-1 from last week's first leg to Internazionale.

No club in the Champions League era has successfully defended the coveted title and that record may well claim another victim at the Camp Nou.

Jose Mourinho's Inter produced a masterclass in how to defeat a side comfortable in possession at the San Siro last week as, playing on the counter-attack, goals from Wesley Sneijder, Maicon and Diego Milito put them within touching distance of next month's final in Madrid.

Inter were superb on the night having been prepared to perfection by the meticulous Portuguese, who finally appears to be winning over some of his Italian doubters.

However, writing off pre-tournament online betting favourites Barcelona would be foolish because, if any team in Europe can produce a devastating goal blitz, it is surely the Spanish champions.

Any team with Lionel Messi, Xavi, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Pedro Pedrito and Thierry Henry at their disposal is always an attacking threat.

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The Catalan side certainly have recent history on their side as a repeat of the 2-0 scoreline they inflicted on Inter at the San Siro during the group stages back in November would be enough to see them progress on the away goals rule.

Mourinho argues that since labouring through the group stages Inter are much improved and they currently find themselves on a six-game winning streak as they close in on a first final in Europe's premier club competition for 38 years.

On the injury front both clubs could be denied the services of key midfielders.

Barcelona will definitely be without Andres Iniesta, who has a torn right thigh muscle, while Inter are sweating on the fitness of Sneijder after he limped out of their weekend Serie A victory over Atalanta with a similar injury.

Francesco Toldo (leg), Davide Santon, (knee), Maicon (tooth) and Goran Pandev (thigh) also face late fitness tests for the visitors.

Barca captain Carles Puyol and experienced Inter midfielder Dejan Stankovic both miss out through suspension, while no less than six players are just one yellow card away from missing the final.

Samuel Eto'o, Walter Samuel, Maicon and captain Javier Zanetti for Inter and Daniel Alves and Gerard Pique for the hosts.

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