Islamabad, 30 April 2025: When Inter Milan faced Barcelona in the 2009-10 Champions League semi-finals, few believed the Italian side could outsmart Pep Guardiola’s star-studded team.
Both clubs had much at stake: Barcelona aimed for consecutive Champions League titles, while Inter sought their first final since 1972 and first win since 1965.
The semi-final was marked by fierce rivalry, with Inter’s manager, Jose Mourinho, going up against his former colleague, Guardiola.
The two had worked together at Barcelona in the 1990s, but now they were intense competitors.
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Mourinho had already made a name for himself as a tactician, and his ambition was clear: to lead Inter to the Treble, a feat never before achieved by an Italian side.
That goal was one step closer after Inter’s dramatic 3-1 win over Barcelona in the first leg at the San Siro on April 20, 2010.
The game was marked by tension, stemming from Barcelona’s 2008 decision to appoint Guardiola over Mourinho, sparking a long-standing rivalry.
Mourinho, known for his pragmatic and defensive approach, was determined to outwit Guardiola’s attacking tiki-taka style.
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Barcelona’s squad included global superstars like Lionel Messi, Xavi, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Despite a strong start from the Spanish side, Inter responded resiliently.
After an early goal from Pedro, Inter leveled the score through Wesley Sneijder. Then, goals from Maicon and Diego Milito secured a memorable victory for Mourinho’s side.
The match also saw Inter’s defense effectively neutralize Messi, with Javier Zanetti marking the Argentine star out of the game.
Mourinho’s tactical brilliance set the tone for Inter’s historic run, culminating in a treble-winning season that saw them claim Serie A, the Coppa Italia, and the Champions League.
