The last time FC Barcelona and Inter Milan met in the UEFA Champions League semifinals was during the unforgettable 2009-10 campaign. That season, under the guidance of José Mourinho, Inter achieved a historic treble, securing the Serie A title, the Coppa Italia, and most notably, their third Champions League trophy – the first in 45 years.
Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola`s Barcelona was enjoying an exceptional season, aiming to repeat the treble they had claimed in the 2008-09 season. Their aspiration included potentially winning the European final at the Santiago Bernabeu, the home ground of their bitter rivals, Real Madrid. To reach that final, they needed to overcome Mourinho and his Inter squad.
This semifinal clash proved to be legendary. In the first leg held in Milan, Inter secured a significant 3-1 victory. Wesley Sneijder, Maicon, and Diego Milito scored for Inter after Pedro had given Barcelona an early lead. The second leg at Barcelona`s Camp Nou on April 28, 2010, stands out as one of the most iconic football matches of recent times. The narrative of rivalry between the two clubs, and especially their managers, had been building long before that night.
The Summer of 2009 Dealings
The transfer window preceding the 2009-10 season featured one of football`s most surprising swap deals. Zlatan Ibrahimovic had expressed dissatisfaction at Inter, despite their Serie A title win in Mourinho`s first year. His agent, Mino Raiola, explored options as Ibrahimovic sought Champions League success, and Barcelona were looking for a striker.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta and then-Inter owner Massimo Moratti agreed on a deal: Ibrahimovic moved to Barcelona in exchange for approximately $50 million plus Samuel Eto`o transferring to Inter on a free, valuing the total deal around $70 million. Inter had also considered signing Barcelona midfielder Aljaksandr Hleb, but when negotiations faltered, they instead signed Wesley Sneijder from Real Madrid weeks later – a player who would become integral to their treble success.
Mourinho vs. Guardiola dynamic
The rivalry between the two celebrated managers intensified in 2009-10, though their paths had crossed previously. Mourinho had served as an assistant coach at Barcelona in the late 1990s during Guardiola`s playing career there. When Guardiola took the reins at Barcelona in 2008, Mourinho adopted contrasting tactical and psychological approaches. During their 2009-10 encounters, Mourinho often described winning the Champions League as merely a `dream` for Inter, while portraying Barcelona and Guardiola`s pursuit as an `obsession.`
The 2010 season perhaps showcased Mourinho at his strategic and media-savvy best, finding ways to unsettle opponents. The rivalry dramatically escalated when Mourinho later moved to manage Real Madrid after leaving Inter, becoming the central figure in the intense El Clásico dynamic for several years, although he ultimately couldn`t replicate his European triumph there.
Barcelona`s Unexpected Journey to Milan in 2010
A unique challenge preceded the first leg. The eruption of Iceland`s Eyjafjallajökull volcano created a vast ash cloud that grounded flights across Europe due to safety concerns. This meant Pep Guardiola`s Barcelona squad was unable to fly to Milan.
Instead, they were forced to travel approximately 1,000 kilometers by bus. This arduous journey took around 14 hours spread over two days, including an overnight stop in Cannes, France, presenting a significant and unusual obstacle just before a crucial European semifinal.
Recap of the Second Leg at Camp Nou
A week after their 3-1 first-leg win, Inter arrived in Barcelona aiming to defend their lead against a Camp Nou crowd desperate for a `remontada` (comeback). The atmosphere was incredibly charged. José Mourinho deliberately walked onto the pitch before his team`s warm-up, drawing whistles and jeers from the entire stadium, effectively shifting the initial pressure onto himself and away from his players.
From the outset, Barcelona dominated, pushing Inter deep into their own territory. Barcelona`s task seemingly became easier after only 28 minutes when Inter`s Thiago Motta received a second yellow card, leading to a controversial red card following an incident with Sergio Busquets. Moments later, Mourinho reportedly told Guardiola, “Don`t celebrate, it`s not over,” words that proved prophetic.
Despite relentless pressure and playing against ten men for over an hour, Barcelona found it incredibly difficult to break down Inter`s resilient defense. Mourinho`s side defended heroically, with even forwards like Samuel Eto`o dropping deep. Barcelona finally scored in the 84th minute through center back Gerard Piqué. A potential second goal from Bojan Krkić moments later was disallowed for a handball by Yaya Touré earlier in the move. Inter held on with incredible determination until the final whistle.
The match concluded with an iconic image: José Mourinho sprinting onto the pitch with his finger pointed skyward towards the travelling Inter fans, a stark contrast to the emotional devastation of the Barcelona players. The intensity of the rivalry was further highlighted by Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdés attempting to confront Mourinho and by club staff turning on the pitch sprinklers in an apparent attempt to disrupt Inter`s celebrations. In the post-match interview, a triumphant Mourinho famously declared it the “best day of my life.”
Second Leg Lineups
FC Barcelona XI: Victor Valdés; Gerard Piqué, Gabriel Milito, Yaya Touré; Dani Alves, Xavi, Sergio Busquets, Keita; Pedro, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Lionel Messi.
Inter Milan XI: Júlio César; Maicon, Lúcio, Walter Samuel, Javier Zanetti; Esteban Cambiasso, Thiago Motta, Dejan Stanković, Christian Chivu, Wesley Sneijder, Samuel Eto`o, Diego Milito.
Adrian Whitmore