23.11.2009 10:38
Vote of confidence
Sandra Sarmiento
Pep Guardiola’s Barça squad has a habit of overcoming the most difficult circumstances in the Champions League.
Group F is the tightest in this season’s Champions League, with just 2 points separating
Inter in top spot and Dynamo Kiev in fourth. Barça, who are currently in third place, play hosts to
Inter Milan knowing that they need a win to bring the knockout stages a little nearer. The team
that has won five trophies under the guidance of Pep Guardiola has remained true to its footballing
style and deserves the full support and confidence of the fans.
Lyon - a defining moment
Last season’s CL tie against Olympique Lyon was one of the defining moments so
far of the Guardiola era. Barça had lost the local derby against Espanyol, drawn in Gerland thanks
to a goal from Frenchman Thierry Henry and then lost in the Vicente Calderón. It was one of the
trickiest moments of the season. Barça needed a win to take them through to the Champions League
quarterfinals – and they got it!
Champions League absentees
The problems continued to pile up for Barça even in the final. The squad travelled to Rome
for the final on 27th May with Márquez injured, Abidal and Alves suspended, and Henry and Iniesta
still struggling with injury. Despite all these problems, Barça produced a superb team effort to
beat Manchester United and lift the trophy.
The same situation 3 years ago
In 2006, after the Paris final against Arsenal, Barça played host to Werder Bremen
for the last match of the group stage. Just like now, Barça were in third place, behind
Mourinho’s Chelsea and Werder Bremen themselves. Only a win would guarantee qualification for
Barça. A marvellous free kick by Ronaldinho and another goal from Gudjohnsen gave Barça the three
points.
Defeat for Inter on last visit
The last time Inter Milan came to the Camp Nou was in the 2002-03 season. Barça, managed at the
time by Radomir Antic, beat the Italians (managed by Héctor Cúper) 3-0, the goals coming from
Kluivert, Cocu and Javier Saviola.