Inter – Barcelona SOCCER PICKS
In Group B of the Champions League, FC Barcelona travels to Milan, to compete against Inter in the Giuseppe Meazza. In the event of a win, the Spaniards are definitively insured against group profit, but the Italians will not just win.
Inter:
With two victories from three group matches and a lead of no less than five points on Tottenham Hotspur and PSV, Inter is fine, although the Italians can not count themselves rich. If FC Barcelona is again lost and if the group duel between Tottenham Hotspur and PSV yields a winner, the battle for overwintering in the Champions League will suddenly be completely open again. The Nerazzurri must therefore remain sharp.
With nine wins in the last ten matches in all competitions, Inter is in any case fine in shape. Last weekend, poor Genoa was swept off the field in a great match with no less than 5-0. “We pin top,” according to midfielder Roberto Gagliardini, who was twice accurate. ‘It is important, however, to achieve such a high level in every race.’ The big win was extra handsome because trainer Luciano Spalletti kept several fixed values aside. Among others Radja Nainggolan, Sime Vrsaljko, Matias Vecino and star player Mauro Icardi got some rest, but will undoubtedly kick off again on Tuesday-evening. The vice-leader of the Italian Serie A seems ready for the cracker against FC Barcelona.
FC Barcelona:
FC Barcelona is still flawless after three group matches in the European champions ball and is therefore on roses. With a new win on Inter, the Catalans are even assured of group wins. The football giant, who went through the eye of the needle last weekend in his own country with a tight victory at Rayo Vallecano, is therefore excellent.
The most important news is that Lionel Messi is now back in the selection. The Argentinian ball virtuoso was on the sidelines for the past few weeks because of a broken arm, which meant that he had to pass El Clasico against Real Madrid. A world player like Messi, of course, you always miss when he is not there, but with four wins, FC Barcelona has gone through its Messi-less period perfectly. Luis Suarez, in particular, deserves a compliment for the way in which he has taken Blaugrana for the past few weeks. Given the excellent starting position of FC Barcelona in the Champions League, trainer Ernesto Valverde will most likely not want to take any risks with Messi. Maybe Valverde will catch up with his star in the final phase, but it seems more logical to spare him for the tough competition matches against Real Betis and Atletico Madrid of the upcoming weeks.
