Coming off a two day bus trip to Milan due to the volcanic eruption in Iceland FC Barcelona arrived ready to play. Head coach Pep Guardiola told the press that there were going to be no excuses no matter the outcome because of the change in team travel plans.

FC Barcelona were without the services of Andres Iniesta in the middle out with a long term injury but early on it looked like Barcelona were going to have no problems when in the 19th minute a Maxwell cross found a wide open Pedro who was able to drive the ball home for the lead.

Following the Pedro goal Mourinho buttoned down his defense and employed a counter attack that seemed to throw Barcelona off their game. Though they dominated ball possession they could not get anything going offensively.

In the 30th minute Inter were able to equalize when Diego Milito found a wide open Wesley Sneijder who easily beat Victor Valdes. The goal for Inter was the game changer and shifted the momentum largely in their favor with the home fans giving their support.

Barcelona did have their chances though throughout the first half but they were unable to capitalize on open shots or getting clean passes to the open man. At halftime the score was even.

To start the second half Barcelona made no changes but would soon think twice about the decision as they soon found themselves two goals down when Maicon found the back of the back of the net.

Finding themselves now down by two goals after taking the early lead FC Barcelona stepped up their offensive push nearly capitalizing in the 53rd minute when Lionel Messi sent in a low shot just outside the box but was pushed aside by Cesar. A minute later they again had a chance off a corner kick but Busquets header was brilliantly saved once again by Cesar.

In the 61st minute disaster struck when Inter stole the ball in Barça territory and Sneijder was able to setup Milito off a heading cross, which Milito was able to volley past Valdes. Barcelona found themselves in very unfamiliar territory down by two goals.

Trying whatever he could to save face in the remaining 3o minutes Pep Guardiola decided to bring in Eric Abidal for the shockingly ineffective Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

The move by Guardiola brought life to the offense and following a few close changes by Gerard Pique it looked like Barcelona was going to be able to recover a goal.

In the 82nd minute a controversial call by referee Olegario Benquerenca sealed FC Barcelona’s fate. Dani Alves had beaten Sneijder inside the box but was taken down inside the area for a clear penalty shot. But some how Benquerenca saw the take down quite differently and showed Alves a yellow card for what he saw as a dive. The call left little time for Barcelona to mount any comeback and left the team stunned.

Barcelona will return home for the second leg against Inter Milan on Wednesday, April 28.