Internazional Make Champions League Final

For the first time since in 38 years, Inter Milan will be playing in the Champions League Final!

Mourinho has done what he was hired to, and transformed Inter from Champions League failures to Champions League Finalists. An incredibly disciplined performance from Inter at the Camp Nou means that Inter advance 3-2 on aggregate against previous winners and favourites Barcelona.

The match was as many expected, with Barcelona holding the ball in Inter's half of the field, probing for openings. With Xavi, Keita, Busquets, and Toure all playing, Barca weren't short of passing options, but as the game progressed it became clear that Barcelona's slow and steady approach might keep the ball away from Inter, but wasn't actually posing many problems to the Italian team. Inter themselves were looking vaguely threatening on the counter, with Eto'o's speed creating several potential openings, but they failed to ever test Valdez.

In the 28th minute, Motta was given a tremendously controversial second yellow card, resulting in his expulsion. He had raised his hand to ward off Busquets behind him, and while there was minimal contact, Busquets fell to the ground like he had been shot, with de Bleeckere showing no hesitation in bringing out the second yellow. Motta was furious, and grabbed Busquets by the neck, which predictably prompted more theatrics, but Motta eventually left the field. Mourinho was rightly furious, but while this should have been a game-changing decision, in reality there was little difference. Barcelona refused to alter their approach, and with Inter defending with 10 behind the ball as before, it was hard to notice any difference. The match looked like a training exercise, with the attack practicing against the defence. It was a contest that the defence was winning easily.

Barcelona's passing wasn't incisive, their off-the-ball movement slow and predictable, and more than anything, their unwillingness to sprint or take players on meant that Inter's defence was able to sit back and soak up the pressure. Julio Cesar was called in to action only once to make a good save, tipping out Messi's curling strike; Bojan headed wide when given the whole net to aim at, and Barca's two other chances resulted in goals, the first of which was created by a lucky blocked clearance, but was ruled out because of a handball that was clearly ball-to-hand. The second of course, was Piqué's neat turn-and-shot in the box in the 84th minute. While it looked off-sides from the angles I saw, it was excellent play from the defender to turn so calmly and roll the ball in to the net. Barcelona only increased the pressure after that point, but their lack of penetration ended up costing them dearly.
Inter defended with two banks of 4 throughout the match, and their intelligent and disciplined space-control meant that Barcelona were constantly forced to go wide with the ball, and with crosses guaranteed to be headed away by Inter's tall defenders, this was perfect for Mourinho. Guardiola should have learned his lesson after narrowly escaping Chelsea last year, but clearly, he still has a lot to learn.

Nothing but congratulations are due to Inter and Mourinho, they came and did exactly what they had to do. It wasn't pretty, but they got the job done with surprising ease. Now it will be Sneijder vs. Robben in the final.