FCBARCELONA.CAT

23.05.2010 12:16

Beat Barca – win the title!

Edgar Fornós

The two teams who knocked Barca out of this season’s cup competitions – in Europe and in Spain – have both ended up winning them: Seville took the Spanish Cup last week and on Saturday night, Inter won the Champions League.

Mourinho’s Inter Milan stopped Barca’s progress in the semi final and on Saturday night they saw off Van Gaal’s Bayern 2-0 with a brace from Diego Milito. Last Wednesday, Seville beat Atletico Madrid to take their fifth Spanish Cup title by the same score after they’d beaten Barca in the last 16 of the competition. Barca may have failed to retain their two Cups, but they went out to the teams who ended up champions themselves.

One goal short of the final

Inter knocked Barca out of the Champions League in the semi final thanks to a 3-1 win in Italy and a classic defensive display at the Nou Camp. Barca played poorly in the first leg, though the result was harsh on them, but the fans were looking for a memorable European night in the return game. Unfortunately, Inter packed their defence and just kept Guardiola’s men out, though Pique’s late goal meant they were just one goal short of reaching their second final on the run.

Palop saves Seville at the Sanchez Pizjuán

Barca also lost the first leg of the Spanish Cup tie against Seville – going down 1-2 at the Nou Camp, but Guardiola sent out a full strength team for the second leg, only for the Seville keeper Palop to put in an astounding performance and limit Barca to a single goal from Xavi, which wasn’t quite enough to see the holders through to the quarter finals.